Disrupting immune regulation incurs transient costs in male reproductive function.
9 pages; International audience; BACKGROUND: Immune protection against pathogenic organisms has been shown to incur costs. Previous studies investigating the cost of immunity have mostly focused on the metabolic requirements of immune maintenance and activation. In addition to these metabolic costs, the immune system can induce damage to the host if the immune response is mis-targeted or over-expressed. Given its non-specific nature, an over-expressed inflammatory response is often associated with substantial damage for the host. Here, we investigated the cost of an over-expressed inflammatory response in the reproductive function of male mice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We experimenta…
Hyaluronan‐coated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as biomimetic nanocarriers of doxorubicin
A coating technology based on low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) and ferulic acid (FA) was applied to the coating of low generation poly(propylene imine) dendrimers through a biocompatible hexa(ethylene glycol) spacer. The ensuing HA-FA-HEG-PPID dendrimeric materials showed interesting loading capability (between 7.65% and 9.08%) regarding anticancer agent doxorubicin, and their interactions with the drug appeared to hamper the drug release in the physiological environment. Thus, the stable nanostructured loaded delivery systems were able to internalize into cells expressing the HA receptor CD44 and to demonstrate high cytotoxicity comparable to that shown by equivalent amounts of fr…
Design, Synthesis and Characterization of a Visible-Light-Sensitive Molecular Switch and Its PEGylation Towards a Self-Assembling Molecule.
HBDI-like chromophores represent a novel set of biomimetic switches mimicking the fluorophore of the green fluorescent protein that are currently studied with the hope to expand the molecular switch/motor toolbox. However, until now members capable of absorbing visible light in their neutral (i. e. non-anionic) form have not been reported. In this contribution we report the preparation of an HBDI-like chromophore based on a 3-phenylbenzofulvene scaffold capable of absorbing blue light and photoisomerizing on the picosecond timescale. More specifically, we show that double-bond photoisomerization occurs in both the E-to-Z and Z-to-E directions and that these can be controlled by irradiating …
Densely PEGylated polybenzofulvene brushes for potential applications in drug encapsulation
The technique of grafting side chains onto a linear polymeric backbone is commonly used to confer to the new polymeric material with desired properties, such as tunable solubility, ionic charge, biocompatibility, or specific interactions with biological systems. In this paper, two new polybenzofulvene backbones were assembled by spontaneous polymerization of the appropriate benzofulvene monomers (4,6-PO-BF3k and 4&rsquo
Nanoreactors for the multi-functionalization of poly-histidine fragments
Water-soluble MBHA derivatives were found to self-assemble in a water environment to generate aggregates showing core–shell architectures. The aggregates appeared to be capable of working as nanoreactors performing a multi-functionalization of poly-histidine fragments, which after an initial interaction with the solvated oligo(ethylene glycol) shell reach the reactive core.
Physicochemical Properties of A New PEGylated Polybenzofulvene Brush for Drug Encapsulation
A new polymer brush was synthesized by spontaneous polymerization of benzofulvene macromonomer 6-MOEG-9-T-BF3k bearing a nona(ethylene glycol) side chain linked to the 3-phenylindene scaffold by means of a triazole heterocycle. The polymer structure was studied by SEC-MALS, NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF MS techniques, and the results supported the role of oligomeric initiatory species in the spontaneous polymerization of polybenzofulvene derivatives. The aggregation features of high molecular weight poly-6-MOEG-9-T-BF3k-FE were investigated by pyrene fluorescence analysis, dynamic light scattering studies, and transmission electron microscopy, which suggested a tendency towards the format…
A Click Chemistry-Based “Grafting Through” Approach to the Synthesis of a Biorelevant Polymer Brush
A new biorelevant polymer brush showing a polybenzofulvene backbone was synthesized by a ‘‘grafting through’’ approach based on click chemistry and spontaneous polymerization reactions. The easy polymerization of the relatively complex monomer (6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k) suggests the existence of a particularly efficient recognition process capable of pre-organizing the monomer molecules for the spontaneous polymerization. 13C-NMR spectroscopy as well as UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy suggested for poly-6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k the features of a vinyl (1,2) p-stacked polymer. The new polybenzofulvene derivative was found to interact with water at room temperature to give clear water solutions, but TEM…
Combining Spontaneous Polymerization and Click Reactions for the Synthesis of Polymer Brushes: A "Grafting Onto" Approach
Two novel benzofulvene monomers bearing propargyl or allyl groups have been synthesized by means of readily accessible reactions, and were found to polymerize spontaneously by solvent removal, in the apparent absence of catalysts or initiators, to give the corresponding polybenzofulvene derivatives bearing clickable propargyl or allyl moieties. The clickable propargyl and allyl groups were exploited in appropriate click reactions to develop a powerful and versatile "grafting onto" synthetic methodology for obtaining tailored polymer brushes.