Physicochemical properties of liposomal modifiers that shift macrophage phenotype.

Liposomes are one of the most widely studied drug carriers due to their relative biocompatibility, lack of immune system stimulation, ability to be cell specific, and serve as a protective drug carrier. Due to several physicochemical properties such as size and charge, liposomes naturally target the phagocytic capabilities of macrophages. In the tumor microenvironment, macrophages strongly influence growth and progression, making them an appealing target for drug delivery. Using the natural capability of liposomes to target macrophages, and the knowledge that material properties can alter cellular responses, this work aims to influence macrophage phenotype with arginine-like surface modified DOPE:DOPC liposomes. These liposomes were incubated with interleukin-4 (IL-4) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophages and naïve RAW 264.7 macrophages. Macrophage phenotype was determined through arginase activity, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion, and nitrite production. With significant variations in the molecular profiles of each activated cell type, these findings suggest that macrophage responses could be altered with small variations in surface functionality of liposomes.

Improving selective targeting to macrophage subpopulations through modifying liposomes with arginine based materials.

The effects of surface modifications on liposomes using a library of arginine derivatives for improved drug delivery were examined. Both unmodified and modified liposomes were tested for their drug delivery properties and propensity for internalization by macrophages. All materials were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential. The resulting liposomes were able to encapsulate doxorubicin with a loading efficiency greater than 90% and cumulative releases of less than 15% after 144 h. The internalization of these particles was examined by loading the liposomes with fluorescein or doxorubicin to test internalization through fluorescence level and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), respectively. RAW 264.7 macrophages were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-4 (IL-4) to induce M1- or M2-like phenotypes. Naïve macrophages were also studied. Most modified liposomes enhanced the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin compared to unmodified liposomes. Macrophage phenotype was also observed to influence the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin entrapped in modified liposomes, with some samples enhancing the cytotoxicity in LPS stimulated macrophages and some enhancing toxicity in IL-4 stimulated cells.

The effect of chemically modified alginates on macrophage phenotype and biomolecule transport.

Macrophage (MΦ) reprogramming has received significant attention in applications such as cancer therapeutics and tissue engineering where the host immune response to biomaterials is crucial in determining the success or failure of an implanted device. Polymeric systems can potentially be used to redirect infiltrating M1 MΦs toward a proangiogenic phenotype. This work exploits the concept of MΦ reprogramming in the engineering of materials for improving the longevity of tissue engineering scaffolds. We have investigated the effect of 13 different chemical modifications of alginate on MΦ phenotype. Markers of the M1 response-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase-and the M2 response-arginase-were measured and used to determine the ability of the materials to alter MΦ phenotype. It was found that some modifications were able to reduce the pro-inflammatory response of M1 MΦs, others appeared to amplify the M2 phenotype, and the results for two materials suggested they were able to reprogram a MΦ population from M1 to M2. These findings were supplemented by studies done to examine the permselectivity of the materials. Diffusion of TNF-α was completely prevented through some of these materials, while up to 84% was found to diffuse through others. The diffusion of insulin through the materials was statistically consistent. These results suggest that the modification of these materials might alter mass transport in beneficial ways. The ability to control polarization of MΦ phenotypes with immunoprotective materials has the potential to augment the success of tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1707-1719, 2016.

Investigating the Synergistic Effects of Combined Modified Alginates on Macrophage Phenotype.

Understanding macrophage responses to biomaterials is crucial to the success of implanted medical devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery vehicles. Cellular responses to materials may depend synergistically on multiple surface chemistries, due to the polyvalent nature of cell⁻ligand interactions. Previous work in our lab found that different surface functionalities of chemically modified alginate could sway macrophage phenotype toward either the pro-inflammatory or pro-angiogenic phenotype. Using these findings, this research aims to understand the relationship between combined material surface chemistries and macrophage phenotype. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion, nitrite production, and arginase activity were measured and used to determine the ability of the materials to alter macrophage phenotype. Cooperative relationships between pairwise modifications of alginate were determined by calculating synergy values for the aforementioned molecules. Several materials appeared to improve M1 to M2 macrophage reprogramming capabilities, giving valuable insight into the complexity of surface chemistries needed for optimal incorporation and survival of implanted biomaterials.

Poly-L-arginine based materials as instructive substrates for fibroblast synthesis of collagen.

The interactions of cells and surrounding tissues with biomaterials used in tissue engineering, wound healing, and artificial organs ultimately determine their fate in vivo. We have demonstrated the ability to tune fibroblast responses with the use of varied material chemistries. In particular, we examined cell morphology, cytokine production, and collagen fiber deposition angles in response to a library of arginine-based polymeric materials. The data presented here shows a large range of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion (0.637 ng/10(6) cells/day to 3.25 ng/10(6) cells/day), cell migration (∼15 min < persistence time < 120 min, 0.11 µm/min < speed < 0.23 µm/min), and cell morphology (0.039 < form factor (FF) < 0.107). Collagen orientation, quantified by shape descriptor (D) values that ranges from 0 to 1, representing completely random (D = 0) to aligned (D = 1) fibers, exhibited large variation both in vitro and in vivo (0.167 < D < 0.36 and 0.17 < D < 0.52, respectively). These findings demonstrate the ability to exert a certain level of control over cellular responses with biomaterials and the potential to attain a desired cellular response such as, increased VEGF production or isotropic collagen deposition upon exposure to these materials in wound healing and tissue engineering applications.

Altering in vivo macrophage responses with modified polymer properties.

Macrophage reprogramming has long been the focus of research in disease therapeutics and biomaterial implantation. With different chemical and physical properties of materials playing a role in macrophage polarization, it is important to investigate and categorize the activation effects of material parameters both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we have investigated the effects of material surface chemistry on in vivo polarization of macrophages. The library of materials used here include poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (p(NIPAm-co-AAc)) nanoparticles (∼600 nm) modified with various functional groups. This study also focuses on the development of a quantitative structure-activity relationship method (QSAR) as a predictive tool for determining the macrophage polarization in response to particular biomaterial surface chemistries. Here, we successfully use in vivo imaging and histological analysis to identify the macrophage response and activation. We demonstrate the ability to induce a spectrum of macrophage phenotypes with a change in material functionality as well as identify certain material parameters that seem to correlate with each phenotype. This suggests the potential to develop materials for a variety of applications and predict the outcome of macrophage activation in response to new surface chemistries.

The significance of macrophage phenotype in cancer and biomaterials.

Macrophages have long been known to exhibit heterogeneous and plastic phenotypes. They show functional diversity with roles in homeostasis, tissue repair, immunity and disease. There exists a spectrum of macrophage phenotypes with varied effector functions, molecular determinants, cytokine and chemokine profiles, as well as receptor expression. In tumor microenvironments, the subset of macrophages known as tumor-associated macrophages generates byproducts that enhance tumor growth and angiogenesis, making them attractive targets for anti-cancer therapeutics. With respect to wound healing and the foreign body response, there is a necessity for balance between pro-inflammatory, wound healing, and regulatory macrophages in order to achieve successful implantation of a scaffold for tissue engineering. In this review, we discuss the multitude of ways macrophages are known to be important in cancer therapies and implanted biomaterials.