Fluorinated GlycoNucleoLipid-based hydrogels as new spatiotemporal stimulable DDS.

Achieving a controlled release of several active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) remains a challenge for improving their therapeutic effects and reduced their side effects. In the current work, stimulable Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) based on supramolecular hydrogels were designed by combining two APIs featuring anticancer activities, namely the doxorubicin and phenazine 14. In vitro studies revealed promising physicochemical properties for all the investigated API loaded gels. Fluorinated GlycoNucleoLipid (GNF) based supramolecular gels remain stable in the presence of either doxorubicin (Doxo) or phenazine 14 (Phe) as anticancer drugs. Noteworthy, the stiffness of the GNF-based supramolecular gels was enhanced in the presence of both APIs while maintaining their thixotropic properties. We demonstrated that the storage modulus (G') of the GNF gels was increased from 1.3 kPa to 9.3 kPa upon loading of both APIs within the same gels. With a low mechanical stimulation (within the LVR), a passive diffusion out of gels was observed for Dox whereas Phe remained trapped in the GNF gels over several hours. Also, in this work we showed that mechanical stress triggered the release of both Phe and Doxo at different rates.

Microwave-Assisted Ultrafast RAFT Miniemulsion Polymerization of Biobased Terpenoid Acrylates.

There is a growing preference to move away from traditional petrochemical-based polymers toward biobased alternatives. Here, we report the microwave-assisted RAFT polymerization of several terpenoid acrylates (tetrahydrogeraniol, cyclademol, nopol, and citronellol). These biobased monomers give polymers with a broad range of glass transition temperatures and are excellent candidates to substitute oil-based (meth)acrylates in applications such as coatings and adhesives. First, the process was studied in miniemulsion, finding that all terpenoid acrylates showed a substantial increase in both polymerization rate and reaction control when microwave irradiation was applied. These observations were attributed to nonthermal microwave effects, namely, to changes in the kinetic coefficients under irradiation. The reactions were also carried out in solution, where an amplified nonthermal microwave effect was observed. The results indicate that nonthermal microwave effects allow RAFT polymerization of these terpenoid acrylates to proceed with both improved control and at higher polymerization rates compared to using conventional heating.