In vitro release of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin from poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) micelles.

An injectable formulation of rapamycin was prepared using amphiphilic block co-polymer micelles of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL). Drug-loaded PEG-PCL micelles were prepared by a co-solvent extraction technique. Resulting PEG-PCL micelles were less than 100 nm in diameter and contained rapamycin at 7% to 10% weight and >1 mg/mL. PEG-PCL micelles released rapamycin over several days, t50% 31 h, with no burst release; however, physiological concentrations of serum albumin increased the release rate 3-fold. Alpha-tocopherol, vitamin E, was co-incorporated into PEG-PCL micelles and increased the efficiency of rapamycin encapsulation. The addition of alpha-tocopherol also slowed the release of rapamycin from PEG-PCL micelles in the presence of serum albumin, t50% 39 h.     

Lipophilic prodrugs of Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin for nanoencapsulation in poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) micelles.

A solvent and Cremephor free formulation of the anticancer chemotherapeutic geldanamycin was prepared using amphiphilic block co-polymer micelles of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL). Although geldanamycin was not solubilized by PEG-b-PCL micelles, fatty acid prodrugs of geldanamycin were encapsulated in PEG-b-PCL micelles by a co-solvent extraction technique. Resulting PEG-b-PCL micelles were <120 nm in diameter and solubilized >20% w/w geldanamycin prodrugs increasing aqueous solubility to >2 mg/mL. PEG-b-PCL micelles released the geldanamycin prodrugs over several days, t(1/2) 2.2 to 9.6 days. The free prodrugs hydrolyzed rapidly, t(1/2)<6 h, into the geldanamycin analogue 17-beta-hydroxyethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, which has high activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, IC(50) 240 nM.     

Nanostructured poly(l-lactic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(l-lactic acid) triblock copolymers and their CO2/O2 permselectivity

Biodegradable poly(l-lactic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA–PEG–PLLA) copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide using dihydroxy PEG as the initiator. The effects of different PEG segments in the copolymers on the mechanical and permeative properties were investigated. It was determined that certain additions of PEG result in composition-dependent microphase separation structures with both PLLA and PEG blocks in the amorphous state. Amorphous PEGs with high CO₂ affinity form gas passages that provide excellent CO₂/O₂ permselectivity in such a nanostructure morphology. The gas permeability and permselectivity depend on the molecular weight and content of the PEG and are influenced by the temperature. Copolymers that have a higher molecular weight and content of PEG present better CO₂ permeability at higher temperatures but provide better CO₂/O₂ permselectivity at lower temperatures. In addition, the hydrophilic PEG segments improve the water vapor permeability of PLLA. Such biodegradable copolymers have great potential for use as fresh product packaging.

Biodegradable PLLA copolymers, containing higher molecular weight and content of PEG present better CO₂ permeability and CO₂/O₂ permselectivity, have great potential for use as fresh product packaging.     

生物可降解材料聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物与人脐静脉内皮细胞的相容性

背景:聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片材料在构建组织工程支架上具有良好的应用前景,内皮细胞能否在该材料上存活和稳定生长将直接影响其作为载内皮细胞载体支架表面可降解材料的应用.目的:观察聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物与人脐静脉内皮细胞的相容性.设计;随机对照观察.单位:吉林大学第二临床医学院.材料:本实验于2006-02/10于吉林大学基础医学院病理生理教研室完成.长约20 cm脐带来自吉林大学第二医院妇产科1名正常足月分娩的新生儿,标本采集经新生儿家属知情同意,本实验经过医院伦理委员会批准.聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片由中国科学院长春应用化学研究所提供.倒置显微镜及相差显微镜为日本Olympus公司产品.方法:将从脐带中分离培养的稳态生长的人脐静脉内皮细胞接种于聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片上培养作为实验组,对照组为未放聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片的培养皿.①以相差显微镜下观察细胞生长情况评价人脐静脉内皮细胞与聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片的细胞相容性.②采用MTT法检测细胞种植后1,3,5及7 d的细胞增殖指数.主要观察指标:①人脐静脉内皮细胞与聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片的细胞相容性.②细胞种植后1,3,5及7 d的细胞增殖指数.结果:①人脐静脉内皮细胞与聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片的细胞相容性:相差显微镜下种植在聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片上的细胞4～6 h后即开始贴壁、伸展,3 d后细胞开始呈集落样生长,生长较快,5 d后细胞集落开始融合,呈现特征性的鹅卵石样形态,经多次传代后,细胞呈长梭形或多角形,与对照组相比无明显差异.扫描电镜下观察在聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物膜片上培养15 d的人脐静脉内皮细胞嵌入膜片间隙生长,但没有连接成片铺在膜片上.②细胞增殖指数:MTT法检测结果显示实验组及对照组实验后1,3,5及7 d的细胞增殖指数差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05).结论:内皮细胞在聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-聚谷氨酸三嵌段共聚物上生长良好,两者具有良好的细胞相容性.     

Understanding drug release from poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) gels.

Experimental and mathematical studies were performed to understand the release mechanism of small molecular weight compounds from poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) polymer gels (trademarked Pluronic by BASF Corp.) of various concentrations. Studies of the diffusion coefficient of solutes in the polymer gels were performed using a novel technique to predict movement of drugs within the gel as release occurs. Studies were also performed to determine the diffusion coefficient of water in the polymer gel, as it is this parameter that controls the dissolution rate of the polymer, and in turn, the drug release rate. A model was formulated and solved numerically to determine the controlling release mechanism. By parameter modification, this algorithm for determining the overall mass of drug released from a drug loaded gel can be used for a number of drugs and for a wide range of initial polymer concentrations. Drug release data were obtained with a novel experimental setup and were used to verify the accuracy of the overall solution of the model. The results of the model indicate that although the rate of polymer dissolution ultimately controls the drug release, about 5% of the release is due to diffusion at the gel/liquid interface, giving rise to a slightly non-linear release. It was also found that agitation speed greatly affects the dissolution rates of these polymer gels.     

Preparation of polyion complex micelles from poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polyions

Polyion complex micelles (PICMs) arise from the spontaneous self-assembly of ionic polymers of opposite charges to form a condensate that is dispersed in aqueous media by a hydrophilic segment, usually poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), present on at least one of the two ionic polymers. PICMs are used for many applications, especially drug delivery. This protocol paper describes the preparation by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of diblock copolymers of PEG bearing either positive or negative charges, both of which have been shown to form PICMs. Furthermore, methods of preparation and characterization of PICMs loaded with nucleic acid drugs are presented.     

对映异构聚乳酸/聚乙二醇空间异构复合水凝胶的药物释放及形貌和细胞毒性

背景:目前生物降解水凝胶已被广泛应用于抗癌药物及生物活性大分子的装载,但为了保护生物活性大分子的活性,需要得到凝胶化条件更温和,凝胶化时间更短的凝胶体系.目的:制备对映异构聚乳酸∕聚乙二醇的空间异构复合水凝胶,使其具有更短的凝胶化时间,实现对模拟药物溶菌酶的装载和控释.方法:以聚乙二醇为引发剂,辛酸亚锡为催化剂,丙交酯与聚乙二醇发生开环聚合反应,得到聚乳酸/聚乙二醇的三嵌段共聚物(PLLA-PEG-PLLA 和 PDLA-PEG-PDLA).用1H NMR,FT-IR 和 XRD表征三嵌段共聚物.10% PLLA20-PEG227-PLLA20的水溶液和10%PDLA21-PEG227-PDLA21的水溶液在室温下混合,12 h后形成凝胶.通过XRD考察凝胶化机制,以溶菌酶为模拟药物,考察凝胶的释药特性,通过扫描电镜考察凝胶的形貌,采用MTT法考察凝胶的细胞毒性.结果与结论:成功得到聚乳酸/聚乙二醇的三嵌段共聚物,在嵌段共聚物中,聚乳酸嵌段和聚乙二醇嵌段都能结晶,但以聚乙二醇嵌段的结晶为主.通过XRD证明凝胶中存在空间异构复合作用,溶菌酶在凝胶中通过凝胶的溶蚀和降解行为,在7 d之内释放完全.通过扫描电镜观察到冻干的水凝胶呈三维贯穿的多孔结构,空隙尺寸在50~100 μm 之间.鼠成纤维细胞与浓度为100%的凝胶浸提液共培养72 h之后,细胞的存活率为99.3%.     

Folate-conjugated methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) amphiphilic block copolymeric micelles for tumor-targeted drug delivery.

Amphiphilic block copolymers composed of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) were synthesized and then conjugated with folic acid to produce a folate-receptor-targeted drug carrier for tumor-specific drug delivery. Folate-conjugated MPEG/PCL micelles containing the anticancer drug paclitaxel were prepared by micelle formation in aqueous medium. The size of the folate-conjugated MPEG/PCL micelles formed was about 50-130 nm, depending on the molecular weight of block copolymers, and was maintained at less than 150 nm even after loading with paclitaxel. The in vitro release profile of the paclitaxel from the MPEG/PCL micelles exhibited no initial burst release and showed sustained release. Paclitaxel-loaded folate-conjugated MPEG/PCL micelles (PFOL50) exhibited much higher cytotoxicity for cancer cells, such as MCF-7 and HeLa cells, than MPEG/PCL micelles without the folate group (PMEP50). Confocal image analysis revealed that fluorescent paclitaxel-loaded PFOL50 micelles were endocytosed into MCF-7 cells through the interaction with overexpressed folate receptors on the surface of the cancer cells.     

Long-circulating poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) block copolymer micelles with modulated surface charge.

Reactive polymeric micelles consisting of an alpha-acetal-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) block copolymer (acetal-PEG-PDLLA) with a narrow size distribution were prepared in this study to conjugate small peptidyl ligands, tyrosine (Tyr) and tyrosyl-glutamic acid (Tyr-Glu), through reductive amination after converting the alpha-acetal group to an aldehyde group, allowing modulation of the surface charge of the micelles from neutral (Tyr-) to anionic (Tyr-Glu-). Both of these micelles showed a significantly long circulating time in the blood compartment with 25% of injected dose still circulating even at 24 h. Further, an appreciably lowered uptake into the liver and spleen was demonstrated for the anionic Tyr-Glu-conjugated PEG-PDLLA micelle compared with a neutral Tyr-conjugated micelle, suggesting a substantial role of the slight anionic charge on the micelle surface in avoiding non-specific organ uptake. Stability of the micelle form in the blood compartment was directly observed for the Tyr-PEG-PDLLA micelle by a gel filtration assay of a plasma sample collected from the micelle-injected mice at 24 h. These results demonstrated that a surface-modulated PEG-PDLLA micelle with a suitable size and a narrowly distributed nature has promising potential as a long-circulating carrier system with desirable biocompatibility and biofunctionality.     

Doxorubicin-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(beta-benzyl-L-aspartate) copolymer micelles: their pharmaceutical characteristics and biological significance.

Doxorubicin (DOX) was physically loaded into micelles prepared from poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(beta-benzyl-L-aspartate) block copolymer (PEG-PBLA) by an o/w emulsion method with a substantial drug loading level (15 to 20 w/w%). DOX-loaded micelles were narrowly distributed in size with diameters of approximately 50-70 nm. Dimer derivatives of DOX as well as DOX itself were revealed to be entrapped in the micelle, the former seems to improve micelle stability due to its low water solubility and possible interaction with benzyl residues of PBLA segments through pi-pi stacking. Release of DOX compounds from the micelles proceeded in two stages: an initial rapid release was followed by a stage of slow and long-lasting release of DOX. Acceleration of DOX release can be obtained by lowering the surrounding pH from 7.4 to 5.0, suggesting a pH-sensitive release of DOX from the micelles. A remarkable improvement in blood circulation of DOX was achieved by use of PEG-PBLA micelle as a carrier presumably due to the reduced reticuloendothelial system uptake of the micelles through a steric stabilization mechanism. Finally, DOX loaded in the micelle showed a considerably higher antitumor activity compared to free DOX against mouse C26 tumor by i.v. injection, indicating a promising feature for PEG-PBLA micelle as a long-circulating carrier system useful in modulated drug delivery.     

Effects of poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted graphene on the electrical properties of poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites

Maleic anhydride was reacted with the armchair edges of graphene nanosheets (GN) via Diels–Alder reaction. Then, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was grafted onto the GN in the presence of anhydride groups through an esterification reaction. The PEG-grafted GN (PEG-g-GN) was characterised via FTIR analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, proving that PEG was successfully grafted onto the GN surface. The results indicated that PEG-g-GN possessed high electrical conductivity and was dispersed in polylactic acid (PLA). The composites were fabricated by using PEG-g-GN and GN as the conductive agent in the PLA matrix. Owing to the function of PEG molecular chains, PEG-g-GN can be uniformly dispersed in the PLA matrix and improve the tensile strength of composites to 59.46 MPa and conductivity to 9.69 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at a PEG-g-GN content of 1 wt%.

PEG-grafted GN has been synthesized and the effects of modification on the PLA composite conductivity, mechanical properties are investigated.     

Hyaluronic acid grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) as a novel peptide formulation.

Hyaluronic acids (HA) grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (PEG-g-HA) were synthesized. The materials characterization, enzymatic degradability and peptide (insulin) release from solutions of the copolymers were examined. Distribution of bioactive peptides within the polymer chain is well-known for combinations of PEG and polysaccharides as aqueous polymer two-phase systems. Insulin was preferentially partitioned into the PEG phase in a PEG/HA solution system. Enzymatic degradation of the copolymers was strongly dependent on the PEG content. Thermal analysis revealed that PEG-g-HA exhibited a variation in phase-separated structures depending on the PEG content. The solution of PEG-g-HA enabled insulin to remain in the PEG moieties dispersed in the HA matrix. Leakage of insulin from the copolymers was dependent upon the PEG content. Leakage rate of insulin from copolymer containing between 7 and 39% by weight of PEG were similar. A dramatic increase in leakage rate occurred when the PEG content was increased to greater than 39% by weight. It is considered that the loaded insulin was partitioned into the PEG moieties and became entangled with the PEG chains. The conformational change of insulin was effectively prevented in PEG-g-HA solutions, although insulin was denatured in storage of both phosphate buffered solution and HA solution. Such a heterogeneous-structured polymeric solution may be advantageous as an injectable therapeutic formulation for ophthalmic or arthritis treatment.     

Thermal characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) block copolymer micelles based on pyrene excimer formation.

Poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG-PDLLA) block copolymers were prepared by anionic ring-opening polymerization, resulting in block sizes effectively controlled by initial monomer/initiator ratios and low molecular weight distributions (<1.12). A pyrene derivative (1-pyrenyl carbonyl cyanide--Py) was conjugated to the end of the hydrophobic block (PDLLA) in a quantitative manner, with coupling efficiencies >95%. The so-obtained PEG-PDLLA-Py copolymers displayed fluorescent properties that were associated with the pyrene monomers, when placed in good solvents for both the hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks. When placed in selective solvents, these copolymers self-assembled into micelles in the 30-nm range, also with low particle size distributions (<0.09), within which Py could be readily entrapped in the hydrophobic PDLLA core. Py entrapment resulted in the formation of excimers, as evident from fluorescence measurements. Observation of excimer formation/dissociation further conveyed information on the physicochemical properties of the core. Thermal characterization of these systems showed that an increase in the temperature resulted in changes in the properties of excimer fluorescence, an occurrence attributed to a higher mobility of the otherwise glassy PDLLA. This, in turn, greatly affected the inter-molecular distance between pyrene molecules, a crucial factor for excimer formation. The glass transition of the PDLLA block, approximately 38 degrees C, defined the onset for increasing chain mobility and whence excimer dissociation. Excimer fluorescence appeared to be time-dependent. Based on these observations, chain exchange processes were clearly evidenced through the time-dependent dissociation of excimers into unimers, a process that was influenced by changes in temperature.     

Effect of maleic anhydride grafted poly(lactic acid) on rheological behaviors and mechanical performance of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA/PEG) blends

A series of polylactic acid (PLA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blends was prepared by melt blending using PEG as a plasticizer to address the disadvantages of PLA brittleness. PEG can weaken the intermolecular chain interactions of PLA and improve its processing properties. PLA-grafted maleic anhydride (GPLA) was reactively blended with PLA/PEG to obtain a high tenacity PLA/PEG/GPLA blend. GPLA was prepared by melt grafting using diisopropyl peroxide as the initiator and maleic anhydride as the graft. The effects of different PEG molecular weights (1000–10 000 g mol⁻¹) on the properties of PLA/PEG/GPLA blends were investigated. GPLA reacted with PEG1000 (M_w = 1000 g mol⁻¹) to form short PLA branched chains and reacted with {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"PEG10000","term_id":"1256949604","term_text":"PEG10000"}}PEG10000 (M_w = 10 000 g mol⁻¹) to form a small number of PLA branched chains, which was unconducive to increasing the intermolecular chain entanglement. The branched PLA formed by the reaction between PEG6000 (M_w = 6000 g mol⁻¹) and GPLA had a remarkable effect on increasing intermolecular chain entanglement. The complex viscosity, modulus, and melt strength values of PLA/PEG6000/GPLA blends were relatively large. The elongation at break of the blends reached 526.9%, and the tensile strength was 30.91 MPa. It provides an effective way to prepare PLA materials with excellent comprehensive properties.

Preparation of PLA/PEG/GPLA blends with high toughness by reactive blending of PLA grafted maleic anhydride (GPLA).     

Lipid-derivatized poly(ethylene glycol) micellar formulations of benzoporphyrin derivatives.

In this paper, we describe the development of micellar formulations for increasing the solubility of lipophilic benzoporphyrins. Using a simple procedure that is readily adaptable for large-scale manufacturing, both A-ring (1) and B-ring isomers (2) of benzoporphyrins could be readily formulated, at concentrations up to 1-2 mg/ml, into small micelles (<20 nm in diameter) of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (M(r) 2000) covalently attached to the lipid anchor distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (mPEG-DSPE). The formulations spontaneously formed upon hydration of a thin film containing mPEG-lipid and photosensitizer and were stable upon storage at 4 degrees C for at least 1 month. Self-association of the B-ring benzoporphyrin isomer in micelles could be efficiently inhibited by either increasing the molar ratio of mPEG(2000)-DSPE to benzoporphyrin or by increasing the pH of the preparation to pH 8.5. The formulation could be freeze-dried and stored indefinitely in the lyophilized form, with restoration of the original properties upon reconstitution. In vivo, the A-ring benzoporphyrin, verteporfin, had higher levels of delivery and greater tumor control in mice than the B-ring derivative when formulated in mPEG(2000)-DSPE micelles and administered intravenously. mPEG(2000)-DSPE micellar formulations also showed tumor control when administered by a single intratumoral injection followed by light irradiation to the tumor within 45-60 min after drug administration. PEG-containing micellar formulations may be a promising delivery system for benzoporphyrin monoesters for clinical applications.