ABSTRACT
Micelles, with the structure of amphiphilic molecules including a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail, are recently developed as nanocarriers for the delivery of drugs with poor solubility. In addition, micelles have shown many advantages, such as enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effects, prolonged circulation times, and increased endocytosis through surface modification. In this study, we measured the critical micelle concentrations, diameters, stability, and cytotoxicity and the cell uptake of micelles against hepatic cells with two kinds of hydrophilic materials: PEG-PCL and HA-g-PCL. We used 131I as a radioactive tracer to evaluate the stability, drug delivery, and cell uptake activity of the micelles. The results showed that HA-g-PCL micelles exhibited higher drug encapsulation efficiency and stability in aqueous solutions. In addition, the 131I-lipiodol loaded HA-g-PCL micelles had better affinity and higher cytotoxicity compared to HepG2 cells.
Subject(s)
Drug Delivery Systems , Ethiodized Oil/administration & dosage , Iodine Radioisotopes/administration & dosage , Radiopharmaceuticals/administration & dosage , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cell Survival/radiation effects , Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Contrast Media/pharmacokinetics , Contrast Media/toxicity , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Drug Stability , Ethiodized Oil/pharmacokinetics , Ethiodized Oil/toxicity , Hep G2 Cells , Hepatocytes/drug effects , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Hepatocytes/radiation effects , Humans , Hyaluronic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Iodine Radioisotopes/pharmacokinetics , Iodine Radioisotopes/toxicity , Micelles , Particle Size , Polyesters , Radiopharmaceuticals/pharmacokinetics , Radiopharmaceuticals/toxicity , SolubilityABSTRACT
RGD-PCP copolymers were fabricated by grafting Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide to poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-chitooligosaccharide-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCP) copolymers and the rate of internalization of RGD-PCP micelles by PC 12 cells were examined. Increasing intensity of the absorbance of amine groups in FT-IR spectra of RGD-PCP copolymers compared with those of PCP copolymers indicated the presence of RGD in new copolymers. Moreover, the grafting efficiency and molar ratio of RGD peptides to PCP copolymers were 88.2% and 0.45, respectively, analysed with HPLC. The RGD-PCP copolymers self-assemble to micelles at the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.018 wt% (178 mg L(-1)) and with a mean diameter of 90 nm using a dynamic light-scattering (DLS) analyser. Interestingly, the internalization of DPH-loaded RGD-PCP micelles into PC 12 cells is much faster (e.g. within 5 min) than that of PCP micelles. The new RGD-PCP micelles may potentially be used in cellular drug delivery.
Subject(s)
Micelles , Oligopeptides/chemistry , Oligopeptides/pharmacokinetics , Polymers/chemistry , Polymers/pharmacokinetics , Animals , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Drug Carriers/pharmacokinetics , Oligosaccharides/chemistry , Oligosaccharides/pharmacokinetics , PC12 Cells , Polyesters/chemistry , Polyesters/pharmacokinetics , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacokinetics , RatsABSTRACT
New amine-groups containing tri-block copolymers and micelles that consisting of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-chitooligosaccharide-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-b-COS-b-PEG, PCP), were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for delivering doxorubicin (DOX) with or without crosslinked amine groups by genipin. The characteristics of the PCP copolymers of Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) verify the amine and ester groups of the COS and the PCL of the copolymers, respectively. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra verify the structures of the PCP copolymers consisting two PCL and PEG polymers reacted onto the COS block. In addition, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) determines the number average molecular weight of the tri-block copolymers (Mn) of approximately 11340 Da/mole. The PCP copolymers can self-assemble to form polymeric micelles at the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 1.0 microM as determined by the UV-VIS absorption spectra. The mean diameter of the PCP micelles is 90 nm, as determined using a dynamic light-scattering (DLS) analyzer. Moreover, the zeta potentials of PCP micelles change from neutral to cationic state when pH of suspension mediums varied from 7.4 to 3.0. For evaluating delivery characteristics of hydrophobic DOX, it was loaded into PCP micelles with or without crosslinked by genipin. The burst release and release period of DOX for the crosslinked micelles are significantly reduced (P < 0.003, n = 3, for pH = 7.4) and sustained (e.g., 8 days), respectively, than those non-crosslinked ones (e.g., 4 days). In conclusion, new tri-block amine groups containing PCP copolymers are synthesized that can self-assemble as PCP micelles. After post-crosslinked amine groups of DOX loaded the micelles, they can effectively reduce the burst release and sustain the release of DOX at different pH dissolution mediums. Further applications of PCP copolymers and micelles for drug delivery can be explored in future.
Subject(s)
Chitosan/chemistry , Crystallization/methods , Doxorubicin/administration & dosage , Doxorubicin/chemistry , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Nanostructures/chemistry , Polyesters/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Amines/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Cross-Linking Reagents/chemistry , Diffusion , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Macromolecular Substances , Materials Testing , Micelles , Molecular Conformation , Nanostructures/ultrastructure , Nanotechnology/methods , Oligosaccharides/chemistry , Particle Size , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
We established histopathologic and neurophysiologic approaches to examine whether different designs of polycaprolactone-engineered nerve conduits (hollow vs. laminated) could promote nerve regeneration as autologous grafts after transection of sciatic nerves. The assessments included morphometric analysis at the level of sciatic nerve, neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and gastrocnemius muscle, and nerve conduction studies on sciatic nerves. Six months after nerve grafting, the nerve fiber density in the hollow-conduit group was similar to that in the autologous-graft group; the laminated-conduit group only achieved approximately 20% of these values. The consequences of these differences were reflected in nerve growth into muscular targets; this was demonstrated by combined cholinesterase histochemistry for NMJ and immunohistochemistry for nerve fibers innervating NMJ with an axonal marker, protein gene product 9.5. Hollow conduits had similar index of NMJ innervation as autologous grafts; the values were higher than those of laminated conduits. Among the 3 groups there were same patterns of differences in the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers and amplitudes of compound muscle action potential. These results indicate that hollow conduits were as efficient as autologous grafts to facilitate nerve regeneration, and provide a multidisciplinary approach to quantitatively evaluate muscular reinnervation after nerve injury.
