Controlling Nanomaterial Size and Shape for Biomedical Applications via Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly.

Rapid developments in the polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) technique have paved the way for the environmentally friendly production of nanoparticles with tunable size and shape for a diverse range of applications. In this feature article, the biomedical applications of PISA nanoparticles and the substantial progress made in controlling their size and shape are highlighted. In addition to early investigations into drug delivery, applications such as medical imaging, tissue culture, and blood cryopreservation are also described. Various parameters for controlling the morphology of PISA nanoparticles are discussed, including the degree of polymerization of the macro-CTA and core-forming polymers, the concentration of macro-CTA and core-forming monomers, the solid content of the final products, the solution pH, the thermoresponsitivity of the macro-CTA, the macro-CTA end group, and the initiator concentration. Finally, several limitations and challenges for the PISA technique that have been recently addressed, along with those that will require further efforts into the future, will be highlighted.

Elucidating the Influences of Size, Surface Chemistry, and Dynamic Flow on Cellular Association of Nanoparticles Made by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly.

The size and surface chemistry of nanoparticles dictate their interactions with biological systems. However, it remains unclear how these key physicochemical properties affect the cellular association of nanoparticles under dynamic flow conditions encountered in human vascular networks. Here, the facile synthesis of novel fluorescent nanoparticles with tunable sizes and surface chemistries and their association with primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is reported. First, a one-pot polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) methodology is developed to covalently incorporate a commercially available fluorescent dye into the nanoparticle core and tune nanoparticle size and surface chemistry. To characterize cellular association under flow, HUVECs are cultured onto the surface of a synthetic microvascular network embedded in a microfluidic device (SynVivo, INC). Interestingly, increasing the size of carboxylic acid-functionalized nanoparticles leads to higher cellular association under static conditions but lower cellular association under flow conditions, whereas increasing the size of tertiary amine-decorated nanoparticles results in a higher level of cellular association, under both static and flow conditions. These findings provide new insights into the interactions between polymeric nanomaterials and endothelial cells. Altogether, this work establishes innovative methods for the facile synthesis and biological characterization of polymeric nanomaterials for various potential applications.

Thiol-Reactive Star Polymers Display Enhanced Association with Distinct Human Blood Components.

Directing nanoparticles to specific cell types using nonantibody-based methods is of increasing interest. Thiol-reactive nanoparticles can enhance the efficiency of cargo delivery into specific cells through interactions with cell-surface proteins. However, studies to date using this technique have been largely limited to immortalized cell lines or rodents, and the utility of this technology on primary human cells is unknown. Herein, we used RAFT polymerization to prepare pyridyl disulfide (PDS)-functionalized star polymers with a methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) brush corona and a fluorescently labeled cross-linked core using an arm-first method. PDS star polymers were examined for their interaction with primary human blood components: six separate white blood cell subsets, as well as red blood cells and platelets. Compared with control star polymers, thiol-reactive nanoparticles displayed enhanced association with white blood cells at 37 °C, particularly the phagocytic monocyte, granulocyte, and dendritic cell subsets. Platelets associated with more PDS than control nanoparticles at both 37 °C and on ice, but they were not activated in the duration examined. Association with red blood cells was minor but still enhanced with PDS nanoparticles. Thiol-reactive nanoparticles represent a useful strategy to target primary human immune cell subsets for improved nanoparticle delivery.

Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly: The Effect of End Group and Initiator Concentration on Morphology of Nanoparticles Prepared via RAFT Aqueous Emulsion Polymerization.

Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is a widely used technique for the synthesis of nanoparticles with various morphologies including spheres, worms, and vesicles. The development of a PISA formulation based on reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization offers considerable advantages such as enhanced rate of polymerization, high conversion and environmentally friendly conditions. However, this formulation has typically produced spheres as opposed to worms and vesicles. Herein, we report the formation of vesicle morphology by increasing the RAFT end-group hydrophobicity of the macromolecular chain transfer agent or manipulating the radical initiator concentration used in the aqueous emulsion polymerization PISA formulation. Additionally, decreasing the molecular weight of the hydrophobic polystyrene domain in these vesicles leads to the formation of worms. This work demonstrates that RAFT end-group hydrophobicity and radical initiator concentration are key parameters which can be exploited to enable access to sphere, worm, and vesicle morphologies via the RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization.

The Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of a 64 kDa PolyPEG Star Polymer After Subcutaneous and Pulmonary Administration to Rats.

PolyPEG star polymers have potential utility as cost-effective polymeric drug delivery vehicles, and as such, it is important to develop an understanding of their biopharmaceutical behavior. Moreover, although a number of studies have evaluated the utility of PolyPEG stars in vitro, investigation of these novel materials in vivo has been limited. Herein, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of a 64 kDa tritiated PEG-based star polymer after subcutaneous and pulmonary administration in rats. After subcutaneous administration, the star polymer showed near complete bioavailability (∼80%) and a similar organ biodistribution profile to the polymer after intravenous administration. After intratracheal instillation to the lungs, the star polymer showed limited bioavailability (∼3%), and most of the administered radiolabel was recovered in lung tissue and feces after 6 d. The data reported here suggest that star polymers display similar pharmaceutical behavior to PEGylated dendrimers after subcutaneous and inhaled delivery and may therefore be used as similar, but more cost-effective drug delivery vehicles.

Molecular weight (hydrodynamic volume) dictates the systemic pharmacokinetics and tumour disposition of PolyPEG star polymers.

Herein we report for the first time the biological fate of poly[(oligoethylene glycol) acrylate] (POEGA) star polymers synthesised via a versatile arm-first reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation approach. The biopharmaceutical behaviour of three different molecular weight (49, 64 and 94kDa) POEGA stars was evaluated in rats and nude mice bearing human MDA MB-231 tumours after intravenous administration. The 94kDa star polymer exhibited a longer plasma exposure time than the 49kDa or 64kDa star polymer; an observation attributable to differences in the rates of both polymer biodegradation and urinary excretion. Tumour biodistribution also correlated with molecular weight and was greatest for the longest circulating 94kDa star. Different patterns of liver and spleen biodistribution were observed between mice and rats for the different sized polymers. The polymers were also well-tolerated in vivo and in vitro at therapeutic concentrations. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: Advances in nanotechnology has enabled scientists to produce nanoparticle as drug carriers in cancer therapeutics. In this article, the authors studied the biological fate of poly[(oligoethylene glycol) acrylate] (POEGA) star polymers of different size, after intravenous injections. This would allow the subsequent comparison to other drug delivery systems for better drug delivery.