RAFT Polymer-Antibody Conjugation: Squaramide Ester Chemistry Leads to Conjugates with a Therapeutic Anti-EGFR Antibody with Full Retention of Activity and Increased Tumor Uptake In Vivo.

Covalent conjugation of a biologically stable polymer to a therapeutic protein, e.g., an antibody, holds many benefits such as prolonged plasma exposure of the protein and improved tumor uptake. Generation of defined conjugates is advantageous in many applications, and a range of site-selective conjugation methods have been reported. Many current coupling methods lead to dispersity in coupling efficiencies with subsequent conjugates of less-well-defined structure, which impacts reproducibility of manufacture and ultimately may impact successful translation to treat or image diseases. We explored designing stable, reactive groups for polymer conjugation reactions that would lead to conjugates through the simplest and most abundant residue on most proteins, the lysine residue, yielding conjugates in high purity and demonstrating retention of mAb efficacy through surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cell targeting, and in vivo tumor targeting. We utilized squaric acid diesters as coupling agents for selective amidation of lysine residues and were able to selectively conjugate one, or two, high-molecular-weight polymers to a therapeutically relevant antibody, 528mAb, that subsequently retained full binding specificity. Water-soluble copolymers of N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were prepared by Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-Transfer (RAFT) polymerization and we demonstrated that a dual-dye-labeled antibody-RAFT conjugate (528mAb-RAFT) exhibited effective tumor targeting in model breast cancer xenografts in mice. The combination of the precise and selective squaric acid ester conjugation method, with the use of RAFT polymers, leads to a promising strategic partnership for improved therapeutic protein-polymer conjugates having a very-well-defined structure.

Targeted Hyperbranched Nanoparticles for Delivery of Doxorubicin in Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis.

Breast cancer brain metastases (BM) are associated with a dismal prognosis and very limited treatment options. Standard chemotherapy is challenging in BM patients because the high dosage required for an effective outcome causes unacceptable systemic toxicities, a consequence of poor brain penetration, and a short physiological half-life. Nanomedicines have the potential to circumvent off-target toxicities and factors limiting the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy. The HER3 receptor is commonly expressed in breast cancer BM. Here, we investigate the use of hyperbranched polymers (HBP) functionalized with a HER3 bispecific-antibody fragment for cancer cell-specific targeting and pH-responsive release of doxorubicin (DOX) to selectively deliver and treat BM. We demonstrated that DOX-release from the HBP carrier was controlled, gradual, and greater in endosomal acidic conditions (pH 5.5) relative to physiologic pH (pH 7.4). We showed that the HER3-targeted HBP with DOX payload was HER3-specific and induced cytotoxicity in BT474 breast cancer cells (IC50: 17.6 µg/mL). Therapeutic testing in a BM mouse model showed that HER3-targeted HBP with DOX payload impacted tumor proliferation, reduced tumor size, and prolonged overall survival. HER3-targeted HBP level detected in ex vivo brain samples was 14-fold more than untargeted-HBP. The HBP treatments were well tolerated, with less cardiac and oocyte toxicity compared to free DOX. Taken together, our HER3-targeted HBP nanomedicine has the potential to deliver chemotherapy to BM while reducing chemotherapy-associated toxicities.

Probing the Biocompatibility and Immune Cell Association of Chiral, Water-Soluble, Bottlebrush Poly(2-oxazoline)s.

Poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) have received substantial attention as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) alternatives in the biomedical field due to their biocompatibility, high functionality, and ease of synthesis. While POx have demonstrated strong potential as biomaterial constituents, the larger family of poly(cyclic imino ether)s (PCIE) to which POx belongs remains widely underexplored. One highly interesting sub-class of PCIE is poly(2,4-disubstituted-2-oxazoline)s (PdOx), which bear an additional substituent on the backbone of the polymers' repeating units. This allows fine-tuning of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and renders the PdOx chiral when enantiopure 2-oxazoline monomers are used. Herein, we synthesize new water-soluble (R-/S-/RS-) poly(oligo(2-ethyl-4-methyl-2-oxazoline) methacrylate) (P(OEtMeOxMA)) bottlebrushes and compare them to well-established PEtOx- and PEG-based bottlebrush controls in terms of their physical properties, hydrophilicity, and biological behavior. We reveal that the P(OEtMeOxMA) bottlebrushes show a lower critical solution temperature behavior at a physiologically relevant temperature (∼44 °C) and that the enantiopure (R-/S-) variants display a chiral secondary structure. Importantly, we demonstrate the biocompatibility of the chiral P(OEtMeOxMA) bottlebrushes through cellular association and mouse biodistribution studies and show that these systems display higher immune cell association and organ accumulation than the two control polymers. These novel materials possess properties that hold promise for applications in the field of nanomedicine and may be beneficial carriers for therapeutics that require enhanced cellular association and immune cell interaction.

Development and Validation of a Targeted Treatment for Brain Tumors Using a Multi-Drug Loaded, Relapse-Resistant Polymeric Theranostic.

This study aimed to develop a multifunctional polymer platform that could address the issue of treatment resistance when using conventional chemotherapeutics to treat glioblastoma (GBM). An antibody-conjugated, multi-drug loaded hyperbranched polymer was developed that provided a platform to evaluate the role of targeted nanomedicine treatments in overcoming resistant GBM by addressing the various complications with current clinically administered formulations. The polymer was synthesized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and included the clinical first-line alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) which was incorporated as a polymerizable monomer, poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) units to impart biocompatibility and enable conjugation with αPEG-αEphA2 bispecific antibody (αEphA2 BsAb) for tumor targeting, and hydrazide moieties for attachment of a secondary drug which allows exploration of synergistic therapies. To overcome the resistance to TMZ, the O6 alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT, DNA repair protein) inhibitor, dialdehyde O6 benzylguanine (DABG) was subsequently conjugated to the polymer via an acid labile hydrazone linker to facilitate controlled release under conditions encountered within the tumor microenvironment. The prolonged degradation half-life (4-5 h) of the polymer conjugated TMZ in vitro offered a potential avenue to overcome the inability to deliver these drugs in combination at therapeutic doses. Although only 20% of DABG could be released within the studied timeframe (192 h) under conditions mimicking the acidic nature of the tumor environment, cytotoxicity evaluation using cell assays confirmed the improved therapeutic efficacy toward resistant GBM cells after attaching DABG to the polymer delivery vehicle. Of note, when the polymeric delivery vehicle was specifically targeted to receptors (Ephrin A2) on the surface of the GBM cells using our in-house developed EphA2 specific BsAb, the dual-drug-loaded polymer exhibited an improved therapeutic effect on TMZ-resistant cells compared to the free drug combination. Both in vitro and in vivo targeting studies showed high uptake of the construct to GBM tumors with an upregulated EphA2 receptor (T98G and U251) compared to a tumor that had low expression (U87MG), where a dual tumor xenograft model was used to demonstrate the enhanced accumulation in tumor tissue in vivo. Despite the synthetic challenges of developing systems to effectively deliver controlled doses of TMZ and DABG, these studies highlight the potential benefit of this formulation for delivering multi-drug combinations to resistant GBM tumor cells and offer a platform for future optimization in therapeutic studies.

Hyperbranched Poly(2-oxazoline)s and Poly(ethylene glycol): A Structure-Activity Comparison of Biodistribution.

In light of research reporting abnormal pharmacokinetic behavior for therapeutics and formulations containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a renewed emphasis has been placed on exploring alternative surrogate materials and tailoring specific materials to distinct nanomedicine applications. Poly(2-oxazolines) (POx) have shown great promise in this regard; however, a comparison of POx and PEG interactions with components of the immune system is needed to inform on their distinct suitability. Herein, the interaction of isolated immune cells following injection of hyperbranched polymers comprised of PEG or hydrophilic POx macromonomers was determined via flow cytometry. All materials showed similar association with all of the splenic immune cells analyzed. Interestingly, splenic CD68hi and CD11bhi macrophages showed similar levels of polymer association, despite CD11bhi being a smaller population, suggesting CD68 is linked to increased recognition and phagocytosis of these nanomaterials. This is of interest given that CD68 is a scavenger receptor and directly facilitates the clearance of cellular debris and promotion of phagocytosis, as opposed to CD11b, which is associated with the mediating inflammation via the production of cytokines as well as complement-mediated uptake of foreign particles. In the liver, PEG and poly(2-methyl oxazoline) hyperbranched polymers showed no discernible differences in their cellular association, while hyperbranched poly(2-ethyl oxazoline) showed increased association with dendrocytes and CD68hi macrophages, suggesting that this material exhibited a greater propensity to interact with components of the immune system. This work highlights the importance of how subtle changes in chemical structure can influence the immune response.

Direct Comparison of Poly(ethylene glycol) and Phosphorylcholine Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles In Vitro and In Vivo.

Phosphorylcholine is known to repel the absorption of proteins onto surfaces, which can prevent the formation of a protein corona on the surface of nanoparticles. This can influence the fate of nanoparticles used for drug delivery. This material could therefore serve as an alternative to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Herein, the synthesis of different particles prepared by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) coated with either poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or zwitterionic 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and 4-(N-(S-penicillaminylacetyl)amino) phenylarsenonous acid (PENAO) was reported. The anticancer drug 4-(N-(S-penicillaminylacetyl)amino) phenylarsenonous acid (PENAO) was conjugated to the shell-forming block. Interactions of the different coated nanoparticles, which present comparable sizes and size distributions (76-85 nm, PDI = 0.067-0.094), with two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultured cells were studied, and their cytotoxicities, cellular uptakes, spheroid penetration, and cell localization profiles were analyzed. While only a minimal difference in behaviour was observed for nanoparticles assessed using in vitro experiment (with PEG-co- PENAO-coated micelles showing slightly higher cytotoxicity and better spheroid penetration and cell localization ability), the effect of the different physicochemical properties between nanoparticles had a more dramatic effect on in vivo biodistribution. After 1 h of injection, the majority of the MPC-co-PENAO-coated nanoparticles were found to accumulate in the liver, making this particle system unfeasible for future biological studies.

Surface polymer imprinted optical fibre sensor for dose detection of dabrafenib.

Dabrafenib is one of the most widely used of the new generation of targeted anti-cancer drugs. However, its therapeutic window varies for different patients and so there is an unmet need for methods to monitor the dose of drug which the patient receives and at the specific site where it acts. In the case of cancers, it is critical to measure the concentration of drug not just in the bloodstream overall, but in or near tumours, as these will not be the same over multiple time periods. A novel sensor based on an optical fibre long period grating (LPG) modified with a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) has been developed with the ultimate aim of achieving minimally invasive measurements of Dabrafenib at the tumour site. A molecularly imprinted polymer specific for Dabrafenib was coated on a methacryloylalkoxysilane-functionalised optical fibre long period grating. In vitro experimental results demonstrate that the Dabrafenib sensitivity is 15.2 pm (µg mL-1)-1 (R2 = 0.993) with a limit of detection (LoD) of 74.4 µg mL-1 in serum solution. Moreover, the proposed sensor shows selective response to Dabrafenib over structurally similar 2-Aminoquinoline.

Next-Generation Polymeric Nanomedicines for Oncology: Perspectives and Future Directions.

Precision polymers as advanced nanomedicines represent an appealing approach for the treatment of otherwise untreatable malignancies. By taking advantage of unique nanomaterial properties and implementing judicious design strategies, polymeric nanomedicines are able to be produced that overcome many barriers to effective treatment. Current key research focus areas anticipated to produce the greatest impact in polymer applications in nanomedicine for oncology include new strategies to achieve "active" targeting, polymeric pro-drug activation, and combinatorial polymer drug delivery approaches in combination with enhanced understanding of complex bio-nano interactions. These approaches, both in isolation or combination, form the next generation of precision nanomedicines with significant anticipated future health outcomes. Of necessity, these approaches will combine an intimate understanding of biological interactions with advanced materials design. This perspectives piece aims to highlight emerging opportunities that promise to be game changers in the nanomedicine oncology field. Discussed herein are current and next generation polymeric nanomedicines with a focus towards structures that are, or could, undergo clinical translation as well as highlight key advances in the field.

Effect of Chain-End Chemistries on the Efficiency of Coupling Antibodies to Polymers Using Unnatural Amino Acids.

Novel conjugates that incorporate strategies for increasing the therapeutic payload, such as targeted polymeric delivery vehicles, have great potential in overcoming limitations of conventional antibody therapies that often exhibit immunogenicity and limited drug loading. Click chemistry has significantly expanded the toolbox of effective strategies for developing hybrid polymer-biomolecule conjugates, however, effective systems require orthogonality between the polymer and biomolecule chemistries to achieve efficient coupling. Here, three cycloaddition-based strategies for antibody conjugation to polymeric carriers are explored and show that a purely radical-based method for polymer synthesis and subsequent biomolecule attachment has a trade-off between coupling efficiency of the antibody and the ability to synthesize polymers with controlled chemical properties. It is shown that careful consideration of both coupling chemistries as well as the potential effect of how this modulates the chemical properties of the polymer nanocarrier should be considered during the development of such systems. The strategies described offer insight into improving conjugate development for therapeutic and theranostic applications. In this system, polymerization using conventional and established reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents, followed by multiple post-modification steps, always leads to systems with more defined chemical architectures compared to strategies that utilize alkyne-functional RAFT agents.

Bispecific Antibody-Functionalized Upconversion Nanoprobe.

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are new optical probes for biological applications. For specific biomolecular recognition to be realized for diagnosis and imaging, the key lies in developing a stable and easy-to-use bioconjugation method for antibody modification. Current methods are not yet satisfactory regarding conjugation time, stability, and binding efficiency. Here, we report a facile and high-yield approach based on a bispecific antibody (BsAb) free of chemical reaction steps. One end of the BsAb is designed to recognize methoxy polyethylene glycol-coated UCNPs, and the other end of the BsAb is designed to recognize the cancer antigen biomarker. Through simple vortexing, BsAb-UCNP nanoprobes form within 30 min and show higher (up to 54%) association to the target than that of the traditional UCNP nanoprobes in the ELISA-like assay. We further demonstrate its successful binding to the cancer cells with high efficiency and specificity for background-free fluorescence imaging under near-infrared excitation. This method suggests a general approach broadly suitable for functionalizing a range of nanoparticles to specifically target biomolecules.

Effects of Surface Charge of Hyperbranched Polymers on Cytotoxicity, Dynamic Cellular Uptake and Localization, Hemotoxicity, and Pharmacokinetics in Mice.

Nanoscaled polymeric materials are increasingly being investigated as pharmaceutical products, drug/gene delivery vectors, or health-monitoring devices. Surface charge is one of the dominant parameters that regulates nanomaterial behavior in vivo. In this paper, we demonstrated how control over chemical synthesis allowed manipulation of nanoparticle surface charge, which in turn greatly influenced the in vivo behavior. Three methacrylate/methacrylamide-based monomers were used to synthesize well-defined hyperbranched polymers (HBP) by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Each HBP had a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 5 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Incorporation of a fluorescent moiety within the polymeric nanoparticles allowed determination of how charge affected the in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of the nanomaterials and the biological response to them. A direct correlation between surface charge, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity was observed, with cationic HBPs exhibiting higher cellular uptake and cytotoxicity than their neutral and anionic counterparts. Evaluation of the distribution of the differently charged HBPs within macrophages showed that all HBPs accumulated in the cytoplasm, but cationic HBPs also trafficked to, and accumulated within, the nucleus. Although cationic HBPs caused slight hemolysis, this was generally below accepted levels for in vivo safety. Analysis of pharmacokinetic behavior showed that cationic and anionic HBPs had short blood half-lives of 1.82 ± 0.51 and 2.34 ± 0.93 h respectively, compared with 5.99 ± 2.30 h for neutral HBPs. This was attributed to the fact that positively charged surfaces are more readily covered with opsonin proteins and thus more visible to phagocytic cells. This was supported by in vitro flow cytometric and qualitative live cell imaging studies, which showed that cationic HBPs tended to be taken up by macrophages more effectively and rapidly than neutral and anionic particles.

Using Peptide Aptamer Targeted Polymers as a Model Nanomedicine for Investigating Drug Distribution in Cancer Nanotheranostics.

Theranostics is a strategy that combines multiple functions such as targeting, stimulus-responsive drug release, and diagnostic imaging into a single platform, often with the aim of developing personalized medicine.1,2 Based on this concept, several well-established hyperbranched polymeric theranostic nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized as model nanomedicines to investigate how their properties affect the distribution of loaded drugs at both the cell and whole animal levels. An 8-mer peptide aptamer was covalently bound to the periphery of the nanoparticles to achieve both targeting and potential chemosensitization functionality against heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Doxorubicin was also bound to the polymeric carrier as a model chemotherapeutic drug through a degradable hydrazone bond, enabling pH-controlled release under the mildly acid conditions that are found in the intracellular compartments of tumor cells. In order to track the nanoparticles, cyanine-5 (Cy5) was incorporated into the polymer as an optical imaging agent. In vitro cellular uptake was assessed for the hyperbranched polymer containing both doxorubicin (DOX) and Hsp70 targeted peptide aptamer in live MDA-MB-468 cells, and was found to be greater than that of either the untargeted, DOX-loaded polymer or polymer alone due to the specific affinity of the peptide aptamer for the breast cancer cells. This was also validated in vivo with the targeted polymers showing much higher accumulation within the tumor 48 h postinjection than the untargeted analogue. More detailed assessment of the nanomedicine distribution was achieved by directly following the polymeric carrier and the doxorubicin at both the in vitro cellular level via compartmental analysis of confocal images of live cells and in whole tumors ex vivo using confocal imaging to visualize the distribution of the drug in tumor tissue as a function of distance from blood vessels. Our results indicate that this polymeric carrier shows promise as a cancer theranostic, demonstrating active targeting to tumor cells with the capability for simultaneous drug release.

Segmented Highly Branched Copolymers: Rationally Designed Macromolecules for Improved and Tunable (19)F MRI.

Highly branched polymers are a promising platform for the design of next-generation contrast agents for (19)F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A series of segmented highly branched polymers (SHBPs) consisting of fluoro- and PEG-based monomers were synthesized by self-condensing vinyl copolymerization (SCVP) using the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technique. SHBPs having different compositions and degrees of branching were obtained by varying the monomer type and feed ratio of monomer to chain transfer agent (CTA). The chemical structures and physical properties of the branched polymers were thoroughly characterized in detail by NMR, SEC and DSC. The systematic variation in structural parameters allowed the relationships between molecular structure, sequence distribution, and imaging performance to be examined. The (19)F NMR properties were strongly affected by the sequence distribution of the fluorinated monomers, the type of polymer backbone and the degree of branching. As a result, SHBPs consisting of statistical copolymeric segments of acrylate units were identified as excellent candidates for imaging due to a single (19)F signal, long T2 relaxation times, and high fluorine contents. The SHBPs could be all imaged or selectively imaged by taking advantage of the differences in relaxation times, demonstrating tunable and selective imaging performance through tailoring the structure and composition of the SHBPs.

Evaluation of Polymeric Nanomedicines Targeted to PSMA: Effect of Ligand on Targeting Efficiency.

Targeted nanomedicines offer a strategy for greatly enhancing accumulation of a therapeutic within a specific tissue in animals. In this study, we report on the comparative targeting efficiency toward prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) of a number of different ligands that are covalently attached by the same chemistry to a polymeric nanocarrier. The targeting ligands included a small molecule (glutamate urea), a peptide ligand, and a monoclonal antibody (J591). A hyperbranched polymer (HBP) was utilized as the nanocarrier and contained a fluorophore for tracking/analysis, whereas the pendant functional chain-ends provided a handle for ligand conjugation. Targeting efficiency of each ligand was assessed in vitro using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy to compare degree of binding and internalization of the HBPs by human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines with different PSMA expression status (PC3-PIP (PSMA+) and PC3-FLU (PSMA-). The peptide ligand was further investigated in vivo, in which BALB/c nude mice bearing subcutaneous PC3-PIP and PC3-FLU PCa tumors were injected intravenously with the HBP-peptide conjugate and assessed by fluorescence imaging. Enhanced accumulation in the tumor tissue of PC3-PIP compared to PC3-FLU highlighted the applicability of this system as a future imaging and therapeutic delivery vehicle.

Multimodal polymer nanoparticles with combined 19F magnetic resonance and optical detection for tunable, targeted, multimodal imaging in vivo.

Understanding the complex nature of diseased tissue in vivo requires development of more advanced nanomedicines, where synthesis of multifunctional polymers combines imaging multimodality with a biocompatible, tunable, and functional nanomaterial carrier. Here we describe the development of polymeric nanoparticles for multimodal imaging of disease states in vivo. The nanoparticle design utilizes the abundant functionality and tunable physicochemical properties of synthetically robust polymeric systems to facilitate targeted imaging of tumors in mice. For the first time, high-resolution (19)F/(1)H magnetic resonance imaging is combined with sensitive and versatile fluorescence imaging in a polymeric material for in vivo detection of tumors. We highlight how control over the chemistry during synthesis allows manipulation of nanoparticle size and function and can lead to very high targeting efficiency to B16 melanoma cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the combination of imaging modalities within a polymeric nanoparticle provides information on the tumor mass across various size scales in vivo, from millimeters down to tens of micrometers.

Targeted delivery of polo-like kinase 1 siRNA nanoparticles using an EGFR-PEG bispecific antibody inhibits proliferation of high-risk neuroblastoma.

High-risk neuroblastoma has poor survival due to treatment failure and off-target side effects of therapy. Small molecule inhibitors have shown therapeutic efficacy at targeting oncogenic cell cycle dysregulators, such as polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). However, their clinical success is limited by a lack of efficacy and specificity, causing off-target toxicity. Herein, we investigate a new treatment strategy whereby a bispecific antibody (BsAb) with dual recognition of methoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a neuroblastoma cell-surface receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is combined with a PEGylated small interfering RNA (siRNA) lipid nanoparticle, forming BsAb-nanoparticle RNA-interference complexes for targeted PLK1 inhibition against high-risk neuroblastoma. Therapeutic efficacy of this strategy was explored in neuroblastoma cell lines and a tumor xenograft model. Using ionizable lipid-based nanoparticles as a low-toxicity and clinically safe approach for siRNA delivery, we identified that their complexing with EGFR-PEG BsAb resulted in increases in cell targeting (1.2 to >4.5-fold) and PLK1 gene silencing (>2-fold) against EGFR+ high-risk neuroblastoma cells, and enhancements correlated with EGFR expression on the cells (r > 0.94). Through formulating nanoparticles with PEG-lipids ranging in diffusivity, we further identified a highly diffusible PEG-lipid which provided the most pronounced neuroblastoma cell binding, PLK1 silencing, and significantly reduced cancer growth in vitro in high-risk neuroblastoma cell cultures and in vivo in a tumor-xenograft mouse model of the disease. Together, this work provides an insight on the role of PEG-lipid diffusivity and EGFR targeting as potentially relevant variables influencing the therapeutic efficacy of siRNA nanoparticles in high-risk neuroblastoma.

EGFR Targeting of Liposomal Doxorubicin Improves Recognition and Suppression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Despite improvements in chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies, the life expectancy of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains less than 1 year. There is thus a major global need to advance new treatment strategies that are more effective for NSCLC. Drug delivery using liposomal particles has shown success at improving the biodistribution and bioavailability of chemotherapy. Nevertheless, liposomal drugs lack selectivity for the cancer cells and have a limited ability to penetrate the tumor site, which severely limits their therapeutic potential. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in NSCLC tumors in about 80% of patients, thus representing a promising NSCLC-specific target for redirecting liposome-embedded chemotherapy to the tumor site. Methods: Herein, we investigated the targeting of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx), a powerful off-the-shelf antitumoral liposomal drug, to EGFR as a therapeutic strategy to improve the specific delivery and intratumoral accumulation of chemotherapy in NSCLC. EGFR-targeting of Caelyx was enabled through its complexing with a polyethylene glycol (PEG)/EGFR bispecific antibody fragment. Tumor targeting and therapeutic potency of our treatment approach were investigated in vitro using a panel of NSCLC cell lines and 3D tumoroid models, and in vivo in a cell line-derived tumor xenograft model. Results: Combining Caelyx with our bispecific antibody generated uniform EGFR-targeted particles with improved binding and cytotoxic efficacy toward NSCLC cells. Effects were exclusive to cancer cells expressing EGFR, and increments in efficacy positively correlated with EGFR density on the cancer cell surface. The approach demonstrated increased penetration within 3D spheroids and was effective at targeting and suppressing the growth of NSCLC tumors in vivo while reducing drug delivery to the heart. Conclusion: EGFR targeting represents a successful approach to enhance the selectivity and therapeutic potency of liposomal chemotherapy toward NSCLC.

A method for controlling the aggregation of gold nanoparticles: tuning of optical and spectroscopic properties.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have many interesting optical properties, which are derived from their surface plasmon resonance (SPR). However, the SPR of single AuNPs occurs around 520 nm, which is a limitation for biomedical imaging applications, because the maximum falls outside the tissue transparency window (∼650-1000 nm). Here the aggregation of AuNPs is mediated by balancing aggregation and steric stabilization processes. This is achieved by varying the relative amounts of hydrophobic small molecules, which act as aggregating agents, and end functional hydrophilic polymers that serve as steric stabilizing agents. This approach allows the position of the SPR shifted into the tissue transparency window, while maintaining colloidal stability. Importantly, increased depolarized scattering and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) cross sections in this region are achieved compared to the single nanoparticles. By varying the structure of the aggregating agent slightly, the SERS spectra exhibit significant changes, thus demonstrating the potential to encode different aggregates. The aggregates have potential applications in biomedical imaging, as an encoding strategy for combinatorial chemistry, and for use in flow cytometry applications.

Enhanced drug delivery to cancer cells through a pH-sensitive polycarbonate platform.

Polymer-drug conjugates are widely investigated to enhance the selectivity of therapeutic drugs to cancer cells, as well as increase circulation lifetime and solubility of poorly soluble drugs. In order to direct these structures selectively to cancer cells, targeting agents are often conjugated to the nanoparticle surface as a strategy to limit drug accumulation in non-cancerous cells and therefore reduce systemic toxicity. Here, we report a simple procedure to generate biodegradable polycarbonate graft copolymer nanoparticles that allows for highly efficient conjugation and intracellular release of S-(+)-camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor widely used in cancer therapy. The drug-polymer conjugate showed strong efficacy in inhibiting cell proliferation across a range of cancer cell lines over non-cancerous phenotypes, as a consequence of the increased intracellular accumulation and subsequent drug release specifically in cancer cells. The enhanced drug delivery towards cancer cells in vitro demonstrates the potential of this platform for selective treatments without the addition of targeting ligands.