0000000000190266

AUTHOR

Kristin Mohr

Pentafluorophenyl Ester-based Polymersomes as Nanosized Drug-Delivery Vehicles

In this work, activated ester chemistry is employed to synthesize biocompatible and readily functionalizable polymersomes. Via aminolysis of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate-based precursor polymers, an N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA)-analog hydrophilic block is obtained. The precursor polymers can be versatile functionalized by simple addition of suitable primary amines during aminolysis as demonstrated using a fluorescent dye. Vesicle formation is proven by cryoTEM and light scattering. High encapsulation efficiencies for hydrophilic cargo like siRNA are achieved using dual centrifugation and safe encapsulation is demonstrated by gel electrophoresis. In vitro studies reveal low cy…

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Carbohydrate-Based Nanocarriers Exhibiting Specific Cell Targeting with Minimum Influence from the Protein Corona.

Whenever nanoparticles encounter biological fluids like blood, proteins adsorb on their surface and form a so-called protein corona. Although its importance is widely accepted, information on the influence of surface functionalization of nanocarriers on the protein corona is still sparse, especially concerning how the functionalization of PEGylated nanocarriers with targeting agents will affect protein corona formation and how the protein corona may in turn influence the targeting effect. Herein, hydroxyethyl starch nanocarriers (HES-NCs) were prepared, PEGylated, and modified on the outer PEG layer with mannose to target dendritic cells (DCs). Their interaction with human plasma was then s…

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Aggregation Behavior of Polystyrene-Nanoparticles in Human Blood Serum and its Impact on the in vivo Distribution in Mice

The interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and proteins in complex biological application media such as blood serum are capable of inducing aggregate formation which can lead to subsequent changes in biological activity. Here, we correlate surface charge, aggregation-tendency, and surface serum protein adsorption with cellular uptake and biodistribution in mice. Polystyrene-based NPs (80 - 170 nm) with different surface functionalizations were synthesized and incubated with human serum. Interaction of NPs with serum proteins and aggregate formation were analyzed by mass spectrometryanalysis and dynamic light-scattering. Influence of surface functionalization on specific cellular uptake an…

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Biodegradable Protein Nanocontainers

The application of synthetic polymers for drug delivery often requires tremendous efforts to ensure biocompatibility and -degradation. To use the body's own substances can help to overcome these problems. Herein, we present the first synthesis of nanocontainers entirely composed of albumin proteins. These protein nanocontainers (PNCs) were loaded with hydrophilic compounds and release of the payload is triggered through natural lysis in vitro in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs). No aggregation of PNCs in human blood plasma was observed, indicating stability for blood circulation. As the PNCs were readily taken up by moDCs, they are considered as a promising delivery platform f…

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Evaluation of multifunctional liposomes in human blood serum by light scattering.

To overcome the limited functionality of "stealth" lipids based on linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains, hyperbranched polyether-based lipids that bear multiple hydroxyl groups for further chemical modification may be a suitable replacement. This study focuses on the development and characterization of "stealth" liposomes modified with a novel hyperbranched polyglycerol lipid (cholesterol-PEG30-hbPG23). An emphasis was placed on the stability of these liposomes in comparison to those containing a linear PEG derivative (cholesterol-PEG44) directly in human blood serum, characterized via dynamic light scattering (DLS). Polymer lipid contents were varied between 0 and 30 mol %, resulting …

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Kohlenhydrat-basierte Nanocarrier mit spezifischem Zell-Targeting und minimalem Einfluss durch die Proteinkorona

Sobald Nanopartikel mit biologischen Flussigkeiten wie Blut in Kontakt kommen, adsorbieren Proteine auf ihrer Oberflache, welche die sogenannte Proteinkorona ausbilden. Die Wichtigkeit dieser Proteinhulle ist weitgehend anerkannt, jedoch untersuchen nur wenige Studien den Einfluss von Oberflachenfunktionalisierung der Nanocarrier auf die Proteinkorona. Vor allem die Variation der Proteinkorona von PEGylierten und zusatzlich mit Targeting-Molekulen versehenen Nanotragern und der Einfluss auf das Targeting sind nicht bekannt. Hydroxyethylstarke-Nanocarrier (HES-NCs) wurden synthetisiert, anschliesend PEGyliert und zusatzlich (“on top”) mit Mannose funktionalisiert, um dendritische Zellen (DCs…

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Aggregation behavior of cationic nanohydrogel particles in human blood serum.

For systemic siRNA delivery applications, well-defined drug carriers are required that guarantee stability for both carrier and cargo. Among various concepts progressing in market or final development, cationic nanohydrogel particles may serve as novel transport media especially designed for siRNA-in vivo experiments. In this work, the interaction of nanohydrogel particles with proteins and serum components was studied via dynamic light scattering in human blood serum as novel screening method prior to applications in vivo. The formation of larger aggregates mostly caused by charge interaction with albumin could be suppressed by nanogel loading with siRNA affording a neutral zeta potential …

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HPMA-LMA copolymer drug carriers in oncology: an in vivo PET study to assess the tumor line-specific polymer uptake and body distribution.

Polymeric drug carriers aim to selectively target tumors in combination with protecting normal tissue. In this regard polymer structure and molecular weight are key factors considering organ distribution and tumor accumulation of the polymeric drug delivery system. Four different HPMA based copolymer structures (random as well as block copolymers with lauryl methacrylate as hydrophobic block) varying in molecular weight, size and resulting architecture were analyzed in two different tumor models (AT1 prostate carcinoma and Walker-256 mammary carcinoma) in vivo. Polymers were labeled with (18)F and organ/tumor uptake was followed by μPET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution. Vascular permeabi…

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Physicochemical and Preclinical Evaluation of Spermine-Derived Surfactant Liposomes for in Vitro and in Vivo siRNA-Delivery to Liver Macrophages

Herein we report on a liposomal system for siRNA delivery consisting of cholesterol (Chol), distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), and surfactant TF (1-hydroxy-50-amino-3,4,7,10,13,16,19,22-octaoxa-37,41,45-triaza-pentacontane), a novel spermine derivative (HO-EG8-C12-spermine) which has shown improved siRNA delivery to cells in vitro and in vivo. Predominantly single-walled liposomes with reproducible sizes and moderately broad size distributions were generated with an automated extrusion device. The liposomes remained stable when prepared in the presence of siRNA at N/P ratios of 17-34. However, when mixed with human serum in equal volumes, larger aggregates in the size range of several hu…

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Solution Properties and Potential Biological Applications of Zwitterionic Poly(ε-N-methacryloyl-l-lysine)

Poly(e-N-methacryloyl-l-lysine) (PMALys) was synthesized by free radical polymerization yielding a zwitterionic polymer with Mw = 721 000 g mol–1. The polymer dissolves in pure water as well as in aqueous salt solution up to 5 M NaClO4 and over wide range of pH values (1.3 ≤ pH ≤ 12.7) as single chains without any sign for aggregate formation. The zwitterionic polymer shows an expanded random coil structure at and close to isoelectric conditions and further expands upon addition of acid and base, respectively. The polymer fulfills four major prerequisites for a promising nano carrier in potential biomedical applications: (1) It is biocompatible, indicated by a low cytotoxicity. (2) It does …

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Quantification of fluorescent dyes in organ tissue samples via HPLC analysis

Abstract The determination of regional blood flow via the accumulation of fluorescent microspheres is a concept regularly used in medical research. Typically, the microbeads get extracted from the tissue of interest and are then quantified by measuring the absorption or fluorescence of the incorporated dyes without further separation from the medium. However, in that case the absorption spectra of different dyes can overlap when used simultaneously, leading to an overestimation of the concentration. Additionally, background absorption from the medium can be problematic. Therefore, a high performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous detection of four dyes (orange, crimson, y…

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Interaction of pHPMA–pLMA Copolymers with Human Blood Serum and Its Components

Immediately after administration, polymer therapeutics are exposed to complex biological media like blood which may influence and alter their physicochemical properties due to interactions with proteins or serum components. Among such interactions those leading to larger sized aggregates can be sensitively detected by dynamic light scattering (DLS) as a pre in vivo screening method. Random copolymers from N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide and lauryl methacrylate p(HPMA-co-LMA) and copolymers loaded with the model drug domperidone were characterized by DLS in isotonic salt solution and in blood serum. The bare amphiphilic copolymer micelles (Rh=30 nm in isotonic salt solution) formed large a…

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