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1.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38534075

ABSTRACT

Electric cars are desirable for their environmental and economic benefits yet face limitations in range in cold weather due to the increased energy demands for cabin heating. To provide efficient heating for vehicles, flexible composite electrothermal heaters offer a viable solution owing to their lightweight design, efficiency, and adaptability for use within and beyond vehicle interiors. The current study aims to improve electrothermal heater stability and performance by understanding the impact of the polymer structure on composite properties. We explore how the presence and molecular structure of olefinic bonds within the polyisoprene block of styrenic triblock copolymers affect thermal stability and performance. Composite electrothermal heaters were fabricated by dispersing carbon black (CB) as the heating material in three triblock copolymer matrices, poly(styrene-1,4-isoprene-styrene) (1,4-SIS), poly(styrene-3,4-isoprene-styrene) (3,4-SIS), and its hydrogenated version poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) (SEPS). The chemical structure and thermal properties of each copolymer were linked to electrothermal performance measurements of composite heaters to establish structure-function relationships. Notably, 3,4-SIS with 28 wt % CB demonstrated the highest thermal and electrical conductivity, resulting in uniform heat distribution. The outcomes unambiguously demonstrate that the olefinic structure of SIS copolymers enhances the electric and thermal conductivity, leading to enhanced electrothermal performance of prototype heaters compared to that of the hydrogenated copolymer.

2.
Antibiotics (Basel) ; 12(12)2023 Dec 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38136740

ABSTRACT

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a global health concern. The propensity of MRSA to form biofilms is a significant contributor to its pathogenicity. Strategies to treat biofilms often involve small molecules that disperse the biofilm into planktonic cells. Linezolid and, by extension, theoxazolidinones have been developed to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as MRSA. However, the clinical development of these antibiotics has mainly assessed the susceptibility of planktonic cells to the drug. Previous studies evaluating the anti-biofilm activity of theoxazolidinones have mainly focused on the biofilm inhibition of Enterococcus faecalis and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, with only a few studies investigating the activity of oxazolidinones for eradicating established biofilms for these species. Very little is known about the ability of oxazolidinones to eradicate MRSA biofilms. In this work, five oxazolidinones were assessed against MRSA biofilms using a minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) assay. All oxazolidinones had inherent antibiofilm activity. However, only ranbezolid could completely eradicate MRSA biofilms at clinically relevant concentrations. The susceptibility of the MRSA biofilms to ranbezolid was synergistically enhanced by coadministration with the nitroxide biofilm dispersal agent C-TEMPO. We presume that ranbezolid acts as a dual warhead drug, which combines the mechanism of action of the oxazolidinones with a nitric oxide donor or cytotoxic drug.

3.
Mol Pharm ; 20(7): 3484-3493, 2023 07 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37289102

ABSTRACT

Infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In particular, recalcitrant bacterial communities known as biofilms are implicated in persistent and difficult to treat infections. With a diminishing antibiotic pipeline, new treatments are urgently required to combat biofilm infections. An emerging strategy to develop new treatments is the hybridization of antibiotics. The benefit of this approach is the extension of the useful lifetime of existing antibiotics. The oxazolidinones, which include the last resort antibiotic linezolid, are an attractive target for improving antibiofilm efficacy as they present one of the most recently discovered classes of antibiotics. A key step in the synthesis of new 3-aryl-2-oxazolidinone derivatives is the challenging formation of the oxazolidinone ring. Herein we report a direct synthetic route to the piperazinyl functionalized 3-aryl-2-oxazolidinone 17. We also demonstrate an application of these piperazine molecules by functionalizing them with a nitroxide moiety as a strategy to extend the useful lifetime of oxazolidinones and improve their potency against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the linezolid-nitroxide conjugate 11 and its corresponding methoxyamine derivative 12 (a control for biofilm dispersal) was assessed against planktonic cells and biofilms of MRSA. In comparison to linezolid and our lead compound 10 (a piperazinyl oxazolidinone derivative), the linezolid-nitroxide conjugate 11 displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration that was 4-16-fold higher. The opposite effect was seen in biofilms where the linezolid-nitroxide hybrid 11 was >2-fold more effective (160 µg/mL versus >320 µg/mL) in eradicating MRSA biofilms. The methoxyamine derivative 12 performed on par with linezolid. The drug-likeness of the compounds was also assessed, and all compounds were predicted to have good oral bioavailability. Our piperazinyl oxazolidinone derivative 10 was confirmed to be lead-like and would be a good lead candidate for future functionalized oxazolidinones. The modification of antibiotics with a dispersal agent appears to be a promising approach for eradicating MRSA biofilms and overcoming the antibiotic resistance associated with the biofilm mode of growth.


Subject(s)
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Oxazolidinones , Oxazolidinones/pharmacology , Linezolid/pharmacology , Oxindoles/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Biofilms
4.
Org Biomol Chem ; 21(8): 1780-1792, 2023 02 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36728689

ABSTRACT

Neurodegenerative diseases impose a considerable medical and public health burden on populations throughout the world. Oxidative stress, an imbalance in pro-oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis that leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has been implicated in the progression of a number of neurodegenerative diseases. The manipulation of ROS levels may represent a promising treatment option to slow down neurodegeneration, although adequate potency of treatments has not yet been achieved. Using a hybrid pharmacology approach, free radical nitroxide antioxidants were hybridised with a class of natural antioxidants, flavonoids, to form a potential multitargeted antioxidant. Modification of the Baker-Venkataraman reaction achieved the flavonoid-nitroxide hybrids (6-9) in modest yields. Antioxidant evaluation of the hybrids by cyclic voltammetry showed both redox functionalities were still active, with little influence on oxidation potential. Assessment of the peroxyl radical scavenging ability through an ORAC assay showed reduced antioxidant activity of the hybrids compared to their individual components. It was hypothesized that the presence of the phenol in the hybrids creates a more acidic medium which does not favour regeneration of the nitroxide from the corresponding oxammonium cation, disturbing the typical catalytic cycle of peroxyl radical scavenging by nitroxides. This work highlights the potential intricacies involved with drug hybridization as a strategy for new therapeutic development.


Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Peroxides , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Reactive Oxygen Species
5.
PLoS One ; 17(11): e0276086, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36378623

ABSTRACT

In tertiary science education, students are encouraged to engage in discipline specific thinking, to learn their chosen subject. The challenge for educators is engaging all students equitably, despite their educational backgrounds and depth of discipline specific knowledge. Personalising learning in the context of large-scale tertiary courses can only be achieved by using digital technologies. In the context of chemistry education, this project has investigated how an adaptive learning technology can effectively and consistently engage students in discipline specific thinking, by personalising their learning pathway. Adaptive learning has been integrated into a foundational chemistry subject and through quantitative analysis there is empirical evidence to support the benefit adaptive learning has on outcomes, in both the short and long term. This study shows adaptive learning can equitably meet the needs for all students and can lead to improvements in educational behaviour beyond grades. The evidence supports adaptive learning as one critical tool for chemistry educators, and educators in other disciplines of science, to include in their suite of pedagogical strategies to meet the needs of all their students.


Subject(s)
Learning , Students , Humans
6.
Langmuir ; 38(16): 4979-4995, 2022 Apr 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35417182

ABSTRACT

Historically, the irreversible reduction of aryldiazonium salts has provided a reliable method to modify surfaces, demonstrating a catalogue of suitable diazonium salts for targeted applications. This work expands the knowledge of diazonium salt chemistry to participate in surface electroinitiated emulsion polymerization (SEEP). The influence of concentration, electronic effects, and steric hindrance/regiochemistry of the diazonium salt initiator on the production of polymeric films is examined. The objective of this work is to determine if a polymer film can be tailored, controlling the thickness, density, and surface homogeneity using specific diazonium chemistry. The data presented herein demonstrate a significant difference in polymer films that can be achieved when selecting a variety of diazonium salts and vinylic monomers. A clear trend aligns with the electron-rich diazonium salt substitution providing the thickest films (up to 70.9 ± 17.8 nm) with increasing diazonium concentration and electron-withdrawing substitution achieving optimal homogeneity for the surface of the film at a 5 mM diazonium concentration.

7.
Chem Asian J ; 17(11): e202200201, 2022 Jun 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35352479

ABSTRACT

Biofilms are part of the natural lifecycle of bacteria and are known to cause chronic infections that are difficult to treat. Most antibiotics are developed and tested against bacteria in the planktonic state and are ineffective against bacterial biofilms. The oxazolidinones, including the last resort drug linezolid, are one of the main classes of synthetic antibiotics progressed to clinical use in the last 50 years. They have a unique mechanism of action and only develop low levels of resistance in the clinical setting. With the aim of providing insight into strategies to design more potent antibiotic compounds with activity against bacterial biofilms, we review the biofilm activity of clinically approved oxazolidinones and report on structural modifications to oxazolidinones and their delivery systems which lead to enhanced anti-biofilm activity.


Subject(s)
Oxazolidinones , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacteria , Biofilms , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Oxazolidinones/pharmacology
8.
Analyst ; 146(1): 156-169, 2021 Jan 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33125008

ABSTRACT

Ultraviolet-photodissociation (UVPD) mass spectrometry is an emerging analytical tool for structural elucidation of biomolecules including lipids. Gas phase UVPD of ionised fatty acids (FAs) can promote fragmentation that is diagnostic for molecular structure including the regiochemistry of carbon-carbon double bonds and methyl branching position(s). Typically, however, lipids exhibit poor conversion to photoproducts under UVPD and thus require longer integration times to achieve the signal-to-noise required for structural assignments. Consequently, the integration of UVPD into liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) workflows for FAs has been limited. To enhance photofragmentation efficiency, an alternative strategy has been devised using wet-chemical derivatization of FAs to explicitly incorporate photolabile groups. FA derivatives that include an aryl-iodide motif have photodissociation conversions of up to 28% when activated by a single 266 nm photon. The radical-directed dissociation product ions resulting from UVPD of these derivatives provide key details of molecular structure and discriminate between lipid isomers. Herein, we describe the structure-activity guided development of new FA derivatives capable of photoproduct yields of up to 97%. UVPD-action spectroscopy demonstrates that photodissociation for FAs derivatized with N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-iodobenzamide (NIBA) is maximised near 266 nm and highlights the key role of the 4-iodobenzamide motif in the efficient formation of [M - I]˙+ radical cations (and diagnostic secondary product ions). The high photodissociation yield of NIBA-derivatized lipids is maintained across 37 commonly observed FAs with the resulting UVPD mass spectra shown to be effective in the discrimination of isomeric FAs that differ in the position(s) of carbon-carbon double bonds. Integration of this strategy with reversed-phase LC-MS workflows is confirmed with high-quality UVPD mass spectra acquired across each chromatographic peak.


Subject(s)
Fatty Acids , Ultraviolet Rays , Chromatography, Liquid , Indicators and Reagents , Ions , Mass Spectrometry
10.
Macromol Rapid Commun ; 41(18): e2000305, 2020 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32656958

ABSTRACT

Bioorthogonal chemistry is revolutionizing the fields of biological chemistry and nanomedicine, providing tools to actively probe and perturb native biochemical processes. Photochemistry provides the opportunity to actively and non-invasively control bioorthogonal reactions, providing sophisticated optochemical tools. Despite the opportunities in bioorthogonal photochemistry, there remain many significant challenges to the clinical translation of current research. This review aims to provide an overview of these challenges and highlight recent examples from the literature that are providing revolutionary solutions to overcoming these barriers. It will highlight new photochemical systems that can be triggered by near infrared light in aqueous solutions and have been demonstrated to function in complex biological systems, including in living animals. It will cover diverse classes of photochemical reactions including photopolymerization, uncaging, conjugation, and photoswitching. The discussion will detail how new approaches are being integrated into polymers or highlight unexploited opportunities. This review intends to showcase how the unique synergy of bioorthogonal photochemistry and polymer science provides vast opportunities in the fields of biomaterials, nanomedicine, and theranostics. This will hopefully provide inspiration to material scientists to integrate bioorthogonal photochemistry into new adaptable materials and ensure translation to solve clinical challenges.


Subject(s)
Polymers , Water , Animals , Photochemistry
11.
Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom ; 34(9): e8741, 2020 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32012356

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Eicosanoids are short-lived bio-responsive lipids produced locally from oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) via a cascade of enzymatic or free radical reactions. Alterations in the composition and concentration of eicosanoids are indicative of inflammation responses and there is strong interest in developing analytical methods for the sensitive and selective detection of these lipids in biological mixtures. Most eicosanoids are hydroxy FAs (HFAs), which present a particular analytical challenge due to the presence of regioisomers arising from differing locations of hydroxylation and unsaturation within their structures. METHODS: In this study, the recently developed derivatization reagent 1-(3-(aminomethyl)-4-iodophenyl)pyridin-1-ium (4-I-AMPP+ ) was applied to a representative set of HFAs including bioactive eicosanoids. Photodissociation (PD) mass spectra obtained at 266 nm of 4-I-AMPP+ -modified HFAs exhibit abundant product ions arising from photolysis of the aryl-iodide bond within the derivative with subsequent migration of the radical to the hydroxyl group promoting fragmentation of the FA chain and facilitating structural assignment. RESULTS: Representative polyunsaturated HFAs (from the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid families) were derivatized with 4-I-AMPP+ and subjected to a reversed-phase liquid chromatography workflow that afforded chromatographic resolution of isomers in conjunction with structurally diagnostic PD mass spectra. CONCLUSIONS: PD of these complex HFAs was found to be sensitive to the locations of hydroxyl groups and carbon-carbon double bonds, which are structural properties strongly associated with the biosynthetic origins of these lipid mediators.

12.
Adv Mater ; 31(40): e1902665, 2019 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31414512

ABSTRACT

Establishing control over chemical reactions on interfaces is a key challenge in contemporary surface and materials science, in particular when introducing well-defined functionalities in a reversible fashion. Reprogrammable, adaptable and functional interfaces require sophisticated chemistries to precisely equip them with specific functionalities having tailored properties. In the last decade, reversible chemistries-both covalent and noncovalent-have paved the way to precision functionalize 2 or 3D structures that provide both spatial and temporal control. A critical literature assessment reveals that methodologies for writing and erasing substrates exist, yet are still far from reaching their full potential. It is thus critical to assess the current status and to identify avenues to overcome the existing limitations. Herein, the current state-of-the-art in the field of reversible chemistry on surfaces is surveyed, while concomitantly identifying the challenges-not only synthetic but also in current surface characterization methods. The potential within reversible chemistry on surfaces to function as true writeable memories devices is identified, and the latest developments in readout technologies are discussed. Finally, we explore how spatial and temporal control over reversible, light-induced chemistries has the potential to drive the future of functional interface design, especially when combined with powerful laser lithographic applications.

13.
Anal Chem ; 91(15): 9901-9909, 2019 08 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31298837

ABSTRACT

Fatty acids are a structurally diverse category of lipids with a myriad of biochemical functions, which includes their role as building blocks of more complex lipids (e.g., glycerophospholipids and triacylglycerols). Increasingly, the analysis of fatty acids is undertaken using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), due to its versatility in the detection of lipids across a wide range of concentrations and diversity of molecular structures and masses. Previous work has shown that fixed-charge pyridinium derivatives are effective in enhancing the detection of fatty acids in LC-MS workflows. Herein, we describe the development of two novel pyridinium fixed-charged derivatization reagents that incorporate a photolabile aryl iodide that is selectively activated by laser irradiation inside the mass spectrometer. Photodissociation mass spectra of fatty acids conjugated to 1-(3-(aminomethyl)-4-iodophenyl)pyridin-1-ium (4-I-AMPP+) and 1-(4-(aminomethyl)-3-iodophenyl)pyridin-1-ium (3-I-AMPP+) derivatives reveal structurally diagnostic product ions. These spectra feature radical-directed dissociation of the carbon-carbon bonds within the fatty acyl chain, enabling structural assignments of fatty acids and discrimination of isomers that differ in site(s) of unsaturation, methyl branching or cyclopropanation. These derivatives are shown to be suitable for hyphenated LC-MS methods, and their predictable photodissociation behavior allows de novo identification of unusual fatty acids within a biological context.


Subject(s)
Fatty Acids/chemistry , Photochemical Processes , Chromatography, Liquid , Iodine/chemistry , Mass Spectrometry , Pyridinium Compounds/chemistry
14.
J Lipid Res ; 59(8): 1510-1518, 2018 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29907595

ABSTRACT

The (O-acyl)-ω-hydroxy FAs (OAHFAs) comprise an unusual lipid subclass present in the skin, vernix caseosa, and meibomian gland secretions. Although they are structurally related to the general class of FA esters of hydroxy FAs (FAHFAs), the ultra-long chain (30-34 carbons) and the putative ω-substitution of the backbone hydroxy FA suggest that OAHFAs have unique biochemistry. Complete structural elucidation of OAHFAs has been challenging because of their low abundance within complex lipid matrices. Furthermore, because these compounds occur as a mixture of closely related isomers, insufficient spectroscopic data have been obtained to guide structure confirmation by total synthesis. Here, we describe the full molecular structure of ultra-long chain OAHFAs extracted from human meibum by exploiting the gas-phase purification of lipids through multi-stage MS and novel multidimensional ion activation methods. The analysis elucidated sites of unsaturation, the stereochemical configuration of carbon-carbon double bonds, and ester linkage regiochemistry. Such isomer-resolved MS guided the first total synthesis of an ultra-long chain OAHFA, which, in turn, confirmed the structure of the most abundant OAHFA found in human meibum, OAHFA 50:2. The availability of a synthetic OAHFA opens new territory for future investigations into the unique biophysical and biochemical properties of these lipids.


Subject(s)
Fatty Acids/chemistry , Fatty Acids/chemical synthesis , Mass Spectrometry , Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic , Esters/chemistry , Humans , Meibomian Glands/chemistry , Stereoisomerism
15.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces ; 9(13): 11461-11471, 2017 Apr 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28299925

ABSTRACT

Gene therapy has arisen as a pioneering technique to treat diseases by direct employment of nucleic acids as medicine. The major historical problem is to develop efficient and safe systems for the delivery of therapeutic genes into the target cells. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have demonstrated considerable promise as delivery vectors due to their (i) high aspect ratio and (ii) capacity to translocate through plasma membranes, known as the nanoneedle effect. To leverage these advantages, close attention needs to be paid to the physicochemical characteristics of the CNTs used. CNTs with different diameters (thinner and thicker) were treated by chemical oxidation to produce shorter fragments. Rigid (thick) and flexible (thin) CNTs, and their shortened versions, were coated with polyallylamine (ppAA) by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The ppAA coating leads to a positively charged CNT surface that is able to electrostatically bind the green fluorescent protein plasmid reporter. This study shows how rigidity and length can affect their (i) behavior in biological media, (ii) ability to transfect in vitro, and (iii) biodistribution in vivo. This study also generates a set of basic design rules for the development of more efficient CNT-based gene-delivery vectors.


Subject(s)
Nanotubes, Carbon , Gene Transfer Techniques , Genetic Therapy , Plasmids , Tissue Distribution
16.
Adv Healthc Mater ; 5(16): 2055-68, 2016 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27283923

ABSTRACT

Targeted nanomaterials promise improved therapeutic efficacy, however their application in nanomedicine is limited due to complexities associated with protein conjugations to synthetic nanocarriers. A facile method to generate actively targeted nanomaterials is developed and exemplified using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functional nanostructures coupled to a bispecific antibody (BsAb) with dual specificity for methoxy PEG (mPEG) epitopes and cancer targets such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The EGFR-mPEG BsAb binds with high affinity to recombinant EGFR (KD : 1 × 10(-9) m) and hyperbranched polymer (HBP) consisting of mPEG (KD : 10 × 10(-9) m) and demonstrates higher avidity for HBP compared to linear mPEG. The binding of BsAb-HBP bioconjugate to EGFR on MDA-MB-468 cancer cells is investigated in vitro using a fluorescently labeled polymer, and in in vivo xenograft models by small animal optical imaging. The antibody-targeted nanostructures show improved accumulation in tumor cells compared to non-targeted nanomaterials. This demonstrates a facile approach for tuning targeting ligand density on nanomaterials, by modulating surface functionality. Antibody fragments are tethered to the nanomaterial through simple mixing prior to administration to animals, overcoming the extensive procedures encountered for developing targeted nanomedicines.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bispecific , Antibodies, Neoplasm , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Nanostructures , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Polyethylene Glycols , Animals , Antibodies, Bispecific/chemistry , Antibodies, Bispecific/pharmacology , Antibodies, Neoplasm/chemistry , Antibodies, Neoplasm/pharmacology , Cell Line, Tumor , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , Female , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Nanostructures/chemistry , Nanostructures/therapeutic use , Neoplasms/metabolism , Neoplasms/pathology , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacology , Theranostic Nanomedicine/methods , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
17.
Eur J Pharm Biopharm ; 94: 393-403, 2015 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26117186

ABSTRACT

Anti-cancer drug loaded-nanoparticles (NPs) or encapsulation of NPs in colon-targeted delivery systems shows potential for increasing the local drug concentration in the colon leading to improved treatment of colorectal cancer. To investigate the potential of the NP-based strategies for colon-specific delivery, two formulations, free Eudragit® NPs and enteric-coated NP-loaded chitosan-hypromellose microcapsules (MCs) were fluorescently-labelled and their tissue distribution in mice after oral administration was monitored by multispectral small animal imaging. The free NPs showed a shorter transit time throughout the mouse digestive tract than the MCs, with extensive excretion of NPs in faeces at 5h. Conversely, the MCs showed complete NP release in the lower region of the mouse small intestine at 8h post-administration. Overall, the encapsulation of NPs in MCs resulted in a higher colonic NP intensity from 8h to 24h post-administration compared to the free NPs, due to a NP 'guarding' effect of MCs during their transit along mouse gastrointestinal tract which decreased NP excretion in faeces. These imaging data revealed that this widely-utilised colon-targeting MC formulation lacked site-precision for releasing its NP load in the colon, but the increased residence time of the NPs in the lower gastrointestinal tract suggests that it is still useful for localised release of chemotherapeutics, compared to NP administration alone. In addition, both formulations resided in the stomach of mice at considerable concentrations over 24h. Thus, adhesion of NP- or MC-based oral delivery systems to gastric mucosa may be problematic for colon-specific delivery of the cargo to the colon and should be carefully investigated for a full evaluation of particulate delivery systems.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Colon/drug effects , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Excipients/chemistry , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Administration, Oral , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Capsules , Carbocyanines/chemistry , Colon/metabolism , Drug Compounding , Drug Liberation , Feces/chemistry , Female , Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry , HT29 Cells , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Microscopy, Confocal , NIH 3T3 Cells , Tissue Distribution
18.
Biomacromolecules ; 16(2): 515-23, 2015 Feb 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25543837

ABSTRACT

The biodistribution of micelles with and without folic acid targeting ligands were studied using a block copolymer consisting of acrylic acid (AA) and polyethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) blocks. The polymers were prepared using RAFT polymerization in the presence of a folic acid functionalized RAFT agent. Oxoplatin was conjugated onto the acrylic acid block to form amphiphilic polymers which, when diluted in water, formed stable micelles. In order to probe the in vivo stability, a selection of micelles were cross-linked using 1,8-diamino octane. The sizes of the micelles used in this study range between 75 and 200 nm, with both spherical and worm-like conformation. The effects of cross-linking, folate conjugation and different conformation on the biodistribution were studied in female nude mice (BALB/c) following intravenous injection into the tail vein. Using optical imaging to monitor the fluorophore-labeled polymer, the in vivo biodistribution of the micelles was monitored over a 48 h time-course after which the organs were removed and evaluated ex vivo. These experiments showed that both cross-linking and conjugation with folic acid led to increased fluorescence intensities in the organs, especially in the liver and kidneys, while micelles that are not conjugated with folate and not cross-linked are cleared rapidly from the body. Higher accumulation in the spleen, liver, and kidneys was also observed for micelles with worm-like shapes compared to the spherical micelles. While the various factors of cross-linking, micelle shape, and conjugation with folic acid all contribute separately to prolong the circulation time of the micelle, optimization of these parameters for drug delivery devices could potentially overcome adverse effects such as liver and kidney toxicity.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Cross-Linking Reagents/chemistry , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Folic Acid/chemistry , Micelles , Platinum/chemistry , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/metabolism , Cross-Linking Reagents/administration & dosage , Cross-Linking Reagents/metabolism , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods , Female , Folic Acid/administration & dosage , Folic Acid/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Nude , Platinum/administration & dosage , Platinum/metabolism
19.
J Am Chem Soc ; 136(6): 2413-9, 2014 Feb 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24437730

ABSTRACT

Understanding the complex nature of diseased tissue in vivo requires development of more advanced nanomedicines, where synthesis of multifunctional polymers combines imaging multimodality with a biocompatible, tunable, and functional nanomaterial carrier. Here we describe the development of polymeric nanoparticles for multimodal imaging of disease states in vivo. The nanoparticle design utilizes the abundant functionality and tunable physicochemical properties of synthetically robust polymeric systems to facilitate targeted imaging of tumors in mice. For the first time, high-resolution (19)F/(1)H magnetic resonance imaging is combined with sensitive and versatile fluorescence imaging in a polymeric material for in vivo detection of tumors. We highlight how control over the chemistry during synthesis allows manipulation of nanoparticle size and function and can lead to very high targeting efficiency to B16 melanoma cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the combination of imaging modalities within a polymeric nanoparticle provides information on the tumor mass across various size scales in vivo, from millimeters down to tens of micrometers.


Subject(s)
Multimodal Imaging , Nanoparticles , Polymers/chemical synthesis , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Cells, Cultured , Fluorine Radioisotopes , Mice , Microscopy, Confocal , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Polymers/chemistry
20.
Chem Commun (Camb) ; 49(37): 3836-8, 2013 May 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23416971

ABSTRACT

Hyperbranched polymers conjugated to a peptide-aptamer were prepared using a combination of RAFT polymerisation and click chemistry for targeting tumour cells in vivo. The polymers showed enhanced cell-uptake in vitro (compared to unconjugated polymer) while excellent specificity for solid tumours was observed in vivo using a mouse model of melanoma.


Subject(s)
Aptamers, Peptide/chemical synthesis , Drug Delivery Systems , Melanoma, Experimental/pathology , Methacrylates/chemical synthesis , Polyethylene Glycols/chemical synthesis , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Animals , Aptamers, Peptide/pharmacokinetics , Fluorescent Dyes , Injections, Intravenous , Injections, Subcutaneous , Methacrylates/pharmacokinetics , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Molecular Imaging/methods , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacokinetics , Rhodamines , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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