pH-sensitive hydrogel based on a novel photocross-linkable copolymer.
A pH sensitive hydrogel has been prepared by a UV irradiation technique. Starting polymer was the PHM (poly hydroxyethylaspartamide methacrylated) obtained from polyaspartamide (PHEA) partially derivatized with methacrylic anhydride (MA). This new copolymer has been further derivatized with succinic anhydride (SA) to obtain PHM-SA that has been cross-linked by UV irradiation to form a pH sensitive hydrogel. The network, recovered after washing as a powder, has been been characterized by FT-IR spectrophotometry and particle size distribution analysis. Moreover, to have information about water affinity of the prepared sample, swelling measurements have been carried out in aqueous media mimick…
NEW BIODEGRADABLE HYDROGELS DESIGNED FOR COLONIC DRUG DELIVERY: IN VITRO RELEASE OF THE PEPTIDES GLUTATHIONE AND OXYTOCIN
BIOADHESIVE PROPERTIES OF A POLYAMINOACIDIC HYDROGEL: EVALUATION BY ATR FT-IR SPECTROSCOPY
The bioadhesive properties of a novel chemical hydrogel based on a polymer of protein-like structure, have been investigated by using ATR FT-IR spectroscopy. In particular, the copolymer PHG obtained by partial derivatization of PHEA with GMA was chemically crosslinked by UV irradiation at 313 nm. Crosslinked PHG was treated with water to obtain a swelled sample, named PHG-UV gel, that was brought into contact with a phosphate buffer/citric acid solution at pH 7.0 in the absence or in the presence of mucin at various concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1 wt.-%). Preliminary dynamic swelling studies have evidenced the occurrence of an interaction between the PHG-UV gel and the glycoprotein. This r…
Fluoropolymer Based on a Polyaspartamide containing 1,2,4-Oxadiazole Units: A Potential Artificial Oxygen (O2) Carrier
Abstract In this preliminary work we have prepared a fluorinated polymer capable of solubilizing an appreciable amount of O(2) and, at the same time, maintaining a higher water solubility than perfluoroalkanes investigated as injectable O(2) carriers. In particular, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a new macromolecular conjugate obtained by derivatization of alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) with 5-pentafluorophenyl-3-perfluoroheptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole, called PHEA-F. This new water soluble fluoropolymer was prepared in high yield using a simple procedure. It was characterized by FT-IR and UV-vis spectrophotometry, (19)F-NMR and SEC measurements. O(2) so…
Evaluation of the interaction and drug release from alpha,beta-polyaspartamide derivatives to a biomembrane model
This article reports on a comparative study on the ability of various polymers, containing hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic groups, to interact with a biomembrane model using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. Multilamellar vesicles of mixed dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidic acid (DMPA) were chosen as a model of cell membranes. The investigated samples were a water soluble polymer, the alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) and its derivatives partially functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG2000) to obtain PHEA-PEG2000, with hexadecylamine (C16) to obtain PHEA-C16, and with both compounds to obtain PHEA-PEG2000-C16. Th…
Photocrosslinking of dextran and polyaspartamide derivatives: a combination suitable for colon-specific drug delivery.
Abstract The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize novel hydrogels with polysaccharide–polyaminoacid structure, able to undergo an enzymatic hydrolysis in the colon and potentially useful for treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Starting materials were methacrylated dextran (DEX-MA) and methacrylated α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)- dl -aspartamide (PHM). These polymers were photocrosslinked by exposure of their aqueous solutions at 313 nm without photoinitiators. Different samples, shaped as microparticles, were obtained as a function of polymer concentration and irradiation time. FT-IR analysis confirmed the occurrence of a co-crosslinking between DEX-MA and PHM in all exper…
Hydrophilic and hydrophobic copolymers of a polyasparthylhydrazide bearing positive charges as vector for gene therapy
BACKGROUND: The design of polymeric vectors for gene delivery provided with specific properties is one of the most critical aspects for a successful gene therapy. These polymers should be biocompatible as well as able to carry efficiently DNA to target tissues and to transfect it into cells. RESULTS: The formation of complexes of poly[(α,β-asparthylhydrazide)–poly(ethylene glycol)] and poly[(α,β-asparthylhydrazide)–hexadecylamine] copolymers functionalised with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (PAHy–PEG-GTA and PAHy–C16-GTA, respectively) with DNA was studied. The effects of the introduction of hydrophilic (PEG) or hydrophobic (C16) moieties on the chains of PAHy–GTA copolymers, such as t…
New Biodegradable Hydrogels Based on Inulin and α,β-Polyaspartylhydrazide Designed for Colonic Drug Delivery: In Vitro Release of Glutathione and Oxytocin.
Succinic derivatives of inulin (INU-SA) with two different degrees of derivatization (20% and 30%, mol/mol) were cross-linked with α,β-polyaspartylhydrazide (PAHy) to obtain INUPAHy hydrogels. Cross-linking was performed using N-ethyl-N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (NHSS) as coupling agents and by varying the reaction time (4 h, 8 h and 24 h). All samples prepared were characterized by FT-IR analysis and swelling measurements in different media. In vitro assays, performed in the presence of inulinase, demonstrated the degradability of the prepared hydrogels. Cell compatibility was evaluated using Caco-2 cells through both direct and …
COMPLEXES OF IRON WITH INULIN DERIVATIVES: A NEW STRATEGY IN THE TREATMENT OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA
Realization of polyaspartamide-based nanoparticles and in vivo lung biodistribution evaluation of a loaded gucocorticoid after aerosolization in mice
Abstract In this study, novel polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) were developed and their potential as carriers for beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) into the lung after aerosolization was demonstrated by in vivo studies in mice. In particular, these NPs were obtained starting from two polyaspartamide-based copolymers which were synthesized by chemical reaction of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)- dl -aspartamide (PHEA) and its pegylated derivative (PHEA-PEG2000) with poly(lactic acid) (PLA). To obtain nanosized particles, the high pressure homogenization (HPH)—solvent evaporation method was followed by using an organic phase containing both PHEA-PLA and PHEA-PEG2000-PLA (at a weight ratio equal to 1:…
NANOSTRUCTURED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS BASED ON POLYAMINOACIDIC DERIVATIVES
In vitro evaluation of glycol chitosan based formulations as oral delivery systems for efflux pump inhibition.
Recently, we have reported that glycol chitosan (GCS) was able to reverse the P- glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux pump. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential of two GCS-based dosage forms (aqueous solution or nanoparticle suspension) for oral administration of the P-gp substrate Rho-123. A further aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the glycol chitosan-4-thiobutylamidine thiomer (GCS-TBA) on P-gp activity considering that the corresponding thiomer of chitosan series is a well-known P-gp inhibitor. Pre-treatment of Caco-2 cell monolayer with a GCS solution or GCS-based nanoparticles increased the absorptive transport of Rho-123 across the monolayer of 1.…
Pegylated nanoparticles based on a polyaspartamide. Preparation, physico-chemical characterization and intracellular uptake
Nanoparticles with different surface PEGylation degree were prepared by using as starting material alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide (PHEA). PHEA was functionalized with a PEG amino-derivative for obtaining PHEA-PEG(2000) copolymer. Both PHEA and PHEA-PEG(2000) were derivatized with methacrylic anhydride (MA) for obtaining poly(hydroxyethylaspartamide methacrylated) (PHM) and poly(hydroxyethylaspartamide methacrylated)-PEGylated (PHM-PEG(2000)), respectively. Nanoparticles were obtained by UV irradiation of an inverse microemulsion, using as internal phase an aqueous solution of PHM alone or of the PHM/PHM-PEG(2000) mixture at different weight ratio and as external phase a m…
A new biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogel with polyaminoacid structure
The preparation and physicochemical and biological characterization of a novel polyaminoacid hydrogel have been reported. The ,-poly(N-2- hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA) has been used as a starting polymer for a derivatization reaction with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to give rise to the methacrylate derivative named PHM. Photocrosslinking of PHM has been performed in aqueous solution at 313 nm and in the absence of toxic initiators. PHM-based hydrogel has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, swelling measurements in aqueous media; the degradation of PHM-based hydrogel has been evaluated as a function of time in the absence or in the presence of ester…
New polysaccharide-polyaminoacid hydrogels: a suitable strategy for colon-specific drug delivery
The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize novel hydrogels with polysaccharide–polyaminoacid structure, able to undergo an enzymatic hydrolysis in the colon and potentially useful for treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Starting materials were methacrylated dextran (DEX-MA) and methacrylated α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHM). These polymers were photocrosslinked by exposure of their aqueous solutions at 313 nm without photoinitiators. Different samples, shaped as microparticles, were obtained as a function of polymer concentration and irradiation time. FT-IR analysis confirmed the occurrence of a co-crosslinking between DEX-MA and PHM in all experimental con…
STEALTH NANOPARTICLES BASED ON A POLYASPARTAMIDE
A NEW WATER-SOLUBLE FLUORINATED POLYMER BASED ON A POLYASPARTAMIDE AND OXADIAZOLE UNITS AS A POTENTIAL ARTIFICIAL OXYGEN (O2) CARRIER
Hyaluronic acid and its derivatives in drug delivery and imaging: Recent advances and challenges.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic, and non-immunogenic glycosaminoglycan used for various biomedical applications. The interaction of HA with the CD44 receptor, whose expression is elevated on the surface of many types of tumor cells, makes this polymer a promising candidate for intracellular delivery of imaging and anticancer agents exploiting a receptor-mediated active targeting strategy. Therefore, HA and its derivatives have been most investigated for the development of several carrier systems intended for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Nonetheless, different and important delivery applications of the polysaccharide have also been described, including gene …
STEALTH NANOPARTICLES OBTAINED FROM A PEGHYLATED POLYASPARTAMIDE
pH-sensitive hydrogel based on a polyaspartamide derivative
A pH-sensitive hydrogel was prepared by UV irradiation technique. Starting polymer was obtained from alpha,beta-poly (N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) partially derivatized with glycidyl methacrylate (PHG). The PHG copolymer was cross-linked by UV irradiation in the presence of methacrylic acid (MA) to form a pH sensitive hydrogel. The cross-linked matrix shaped as microparticles was characterized by FT-IR spectrophotometry, XPS, X-ray diffraction, SEM and particle size distribution analyses. Moreover, to have information about water affinity of the prepared sample, swelling measurements were carried out in aqueous media mimicking some biological fluids. In order to employ the prepar…
NEW GRAFT COPOLYMERS OF HYALURONIC ACID AND POLYLACTIC ACID: SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION
Abstract New graft copolymers have been synthesized, using hyaluronic acid (HA) as a hydrophilic backbone and polylactic acid (PLA) as an aliphatic polyester in order to obtain new polymeric derivatives of HA able to hydrophobically associate in an aqueous medium. Hyaluronic acid with low molecular weight was made soluble in organic solvent by transformation to its tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salt. Using the HA–TBA derivative, the reaction was performed in dimethylsulfoxide adding as a reagent the N -hydroxysuccinimide derivative of PLA. Two HA–PLA graft copolymers have been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1 H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The interaction between …
AMPHYPHILIC DERIVATIVES BETWEEN HYALURONIC ACID AND POLYLACTIC ACID
DRUG DELIVERY FROM MUCOADHESIVE DISKS BASED ON A PHOTO-CROSS-LINKABLE POLYASPARTAMIDE DERIVATIVE
Disks for local delivery of amoxicillin to the buccal or gastric cavity were prepared using as starting polymer a polyaspartamide derivative. In particular, α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) was derivatized with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in order to synthesize PHG, a photo-cross-linkable and biodegradable polymer that gives rise to the formation of a chemical hydrogel (PHG-UV) by UV irradiation. This hydrogel was shaped as disks whose mucoadhesive properties have been confirmed by swelling measurements in phosphate buffer/citric acid solution at pH 7.0 in the presence of various concentrations of mucin. Swelling ability of PHG-UV disks was also evaluated in simulated saliva…