Bioactivated Polymers for Nanomedicine

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 May 2023) | Viewed by 10181

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kawasaki, Japan
Interests: glioblastoma; stimuli-sensitive nanomedicine; polymer micelles; targeted therapy; drug delivery systems; organic chemistry

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, Kawasaki, Japan
Interests: polymer synthesis; post-polymerization modification; organic synthesis; drug/gene delivery; poly(2-oxazoline)s; responsive polymers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactivated polymers or polymers with biologically active moieties are prominently featured in nanomedicine, as the interplay with biology enables the targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutics. Though well-established, bioactivated polymers continue to drive innovation in nanomedicine, as the available synthetic tools and our current understanding of complex biology keep expanding. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to highlight recent and new developments regarding their synthesis, physicochemical characteristics, structure–property relationships, and applications, in addition to perspectives on the further development of the field.

Dr. Sabina Quader
Dr. Joachim Van Guyse
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • bioconjugation
  • targeted delivery
  • polymer conjugates
  • gene/drug delivery

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1682 KiB  
Article
Multi-Armed Star-Shaped Block Copolymers of Poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(furfuryl glycidol) as Long Circulating Nanocarriers
by Yasuhiro Nakagawa, Kotaro Ushidome, Keita Masuda, Kazunori Igarashi, Yu Matsumoto, Tatsuya Yamasoba, Yasutaka Anraku, Madoka Takai and Horacio Cabral
Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2626; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122626 - 09 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1377
Abstract
Multi-arm star-shaped block copolymers with precisely tuned nano-architectures are promising candidates for drug delivery. Herein, we developed 4- and 6-arm star-shaped block copolymers consisting of poly(furfuryl glycidol) (PFG) as the core-forming segments and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the shell-forming blocks. The polymerization [...] Read more.
Multi-arm star-shaped block copolymers with precisely tuned nano-architectures are promising candidates for drug delivery. Herein, we developed 4- and 6-arm star-shaped block copolymers consisting of poly(furfuryl glycidol) (PFG) as the core-forming segments and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the shell-forming blocks. The polymerization degree of each block was controlled by adjusting the feeding ratio of a furfuryl glycidyl ether and ethylene oxide. The size of the series of block copolymers was found to be less than 10 nm in DMF. In water, the polymers showed sizes larger than 20 nm, which can be related to the association of the polymers. The star-shaped block copolymers effectively loaded maleimide-bearing model drugs in their core-forming segment with the Diels–Alder reaction. These drugs were rapidly released upon heating via a retro Diels–Alder step. When the star-shaped block copolymers were injected intravenously in mice, they showed prolonged blood circulation, with more than 80% of the injected dose remaining in the bloodstream at 6 h after intravenous injection. These results indicate the potential of the star-shaped PFG-PEG block copolymers as long-circulating nanocarriers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivated Polymers for Nanomedicine)
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20 pages, 4095 KiB  
Article
Development of Novel S-Protective Thiolated-Based Mucoadhesive Tablets for Repaglinide: Pharmacokinetic Study
by Nabil A. Alhakamy, Nimbagal Raghavendra Naveen, Shashank Gorityala, Mallesh Kurakula, Khaled M. Hosny, Awaji Y. Safhi, Deena M. Bukhary, Haitham A. Bukhary, Fahad Y. Sabei, Rayan Y. Mushtaq and Samar S. Murshid
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3529; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173529 - 28 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1748
Abstract
Mucoadhesive polymers have an essential role in drug localization and target-specific actions in oral delivery systems. The current work aims to develop and characterize a new mucoadhesive polysaccharide polymer (thiolated xanthan gum-TXG and S-Protected thiolated xanthan gum-STX) that was further utilized for the [...] Read more.
Mucoadhesive polymers have an essential role in drug localization and target-specific actions in oral delivery systems. The current work aims to develop and characterize a new mucoadhesive polysaccharide polymer (thiolated xanthan gum-TXG and S-Protected thiolated xanthan gum-STX) that was further utilized for the preparation of repaglinide mucoadhesive tablets. The thiolation of xanthan gum was carried out by ester formation through the reaction of the hydroxyl group of xanthan gum and the carboxyl group of thioglycolic acid. Synthesis of TXG was optimized using central composite design, and TXG prepared using 5.303 moles/L of TGA and 6.075 g/L of xanthan gum can accomplish the prerequisites of the optimized formulation. Consequently, TXG was further combined with aromatic 2-mercapto-nicotinic acid to synthesize STX. TXG and STX were further studied for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, rheological investigations, and Ellman’s assay (to quantify the number of thiol/disulfide groups). A substantial rise in the viscosity of STX might be due to increased interactions of macromolecules liable for improving the mucosal adhesion strength of thiolated gum. STX was proven safe with the support of cytotoxic study data. Mucoadhesive formulations of repaglinide-containing STX showed the highest ex vivo mucoadhesion strength (12.78 g-RSX-1 and 17.57 g- RSX-2) and residence time (>16 h). The improved cross-linkage and cohesive nature of the matrix in the thiolated and S-protected thiolated formulations was responsible for the controlled release of repaglinide over 16 h. The pharmacokinetic study revealed the greater AUC (area under the curve) and long half-life with the RSX-2 formulation, confirming that formulations based on S-protected thiomers can be favorable drug systems for enhancing the bioavailability of low-solubility drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivated Polymers for Nanomedicine)
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Review

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18 pages, 2194 KiB  
Review
Bioresponsive Polymers for Nanomedicine—Expectations and Reality!
by Sabina Quader and Joachim F. R. Van Guyse
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3659; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173659 - 03 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2395
Abstract
Bioresponsive polymers in nanomedicine have been widely perceived to selectively activate the therapeutic function of nanomedicine at diseased or pathological sites, while sparing their healthy counterparts. This idea can be described as an advanced version of Paul Ehrlich’s magic bullet concept. From that [...] Read more.
Bioresponsive polymers in nanomedicine have been widely perceived to selectively activate the therapeutic function of nanomedicine at diseased or pathological sites, while sparing their healthy counterparts. This idea can be described as an advanced version of Paul Ehrlich’s magic bullet concept. From that perspective, the inherent anomalies or malfunction of the pathological sites are generally targeted to allow the selective activation or sensory function of nanomedicine. Nonetheless, while the primary goals and expectations in developing bioresponsive polymers are to elicit exclusive selectivity of therapeutic action at diseased sites, this remains difficult to achieve in practice. Numerous research efforts have been undertaken, and are ongoing, to tackle this fine-tuning. This review provides a brief introduction to key stimuli with biological relevance commonly featured in the design of bioresponsive polymers, which serves as a platform for critical discussion, and identifies the gap between expectations and current reality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivated Polymers for Nanomedicine)
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18 pages, 1508 KiB  
Review
Chitosan–Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for Active Targeting in Cancer Therapy
by Lisa Efriani Puluhulawa, I Made Joni, Khaled M. Elamin, Ahmed Fouad Abdelwahab Mohammed, Muchtaridi Muchtaridi and Nasrul Wathoni
Polymers 2022, 14(16), 3410; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163410 - 20 Aug 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4007
Abstract
Cancer is the most common cause of death worldwide; therefore, there is a need to discover novel treatment modalities to combat it. One of the cancer treatments is nanoparticle technology. Currently, nanoparticles have been modified to have desirable pharmacological effects by using chemical [...] Read more.
Cancer is the most common cause of death worldwide; therefore, there is a need to discover novel treatment modalities to combat it. One of the cancer treatments is nanoparticle technology. Currently, nanoparticles have been modified to have desirable pharmacological effects by using chemical ligands that bind with their specific receptors on the surface of malignant cells. Chemical grafting of chitosan nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid as a targeted ligand can become an attractive alternative for active targeting. Hence, these nanoparticles can control drug release with pH- responsive stimuli, and high selectivity of hyaluronic acid to CD44 receptors makes these nanoparticles accumulate more inside cells that overexpress these receptors (cancer cells). In this context, we discuss the benefits and recent findings of developing and utilizing chitosan–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles against distinct forms of cancer malignancy. From here we know that chitosan–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (CHA-Np) can produce a nanoparticle system with good characteristics, effectiveness, and a good active targeting on various types of cancer cells. Therefore, this system is a good candidate for targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy, anticipating that CHA-Np could be further developed for various cancer therapy applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivated Polymers for Nanomedicine)
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