Tuned Density of Anti-Tissue Factor Antibody Fragment onto siRNA-Loaded Polyion Complex Micelles for Optimizing Targetability into Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Antibody fragment (Fab')-installed polyion complex (PIC) micelles were constructed to improve targetability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery to pancreatic cancer cells. To this end, we synthesized a block copolymer of azide-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(l-lysine) and prepared PIC micelles with siRNA. Then, a dibenzylcyclooctyne (DBCO)-modified antihuman tissue factor (TF) Fab' was conjugated to azido groups on the micellar surface. A fluorescence correlation spectroscopic analysis revealed that 1, 2, or 3 molecule(s) of Fab'(s) were installed onto one micellar nanoparticle according to the feeding ratio of Fab' (or DBCO) to micelle (or azide). The resulting micelles exhibited ∼40 nm in hydrodynamic diameter, similar to that of the parent micelles before Fab' conjugation. Flow cytometric analysis showed that three molecules of Fab'-installed PIC micelles (3(Fab')-micelles) had the highest binding affinity to cultured pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells, which are known to overexpress TF on their surface. The 3(Fab')-micelles also exhibited the most efficient gene silencing activity against polo-like kinase 1 mRNA in the cultured cancer cells. Furthermore, the 3(Fab')-micelles exhibited high penetrability and the highest cellular internalization amounts in BxPC3 spheroids compared with one or two molecule(s) of Fab'-installed PIC micelles. These results demonstrate the potential of anti-TF Fab'-installed PIC micelles for active targeting of stroma-rich pancreatic tumors.

siRNA-Loaded Polyion Complex Micelle Decorated with Charge-Conversional Polymer Tuned to Undergo Stepwise Response to Intra-Tumoral and Intra-Endosomal pHs for Exerting Enhanced RNAi Efficacy.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) needs an efficient delivery vehicle to reach the cytoplasm of target cells for successful RNA interference (RNAi) therapy. This study aimed to develop an siRNA-loaded polyion complex (PIC) micelle equipped with a smart polymeric shell featuring tumor targetability and endosome escapability for enhanced RNAi activity in cancer cells. To this end, an acidic pH-responsive polypeptide was designed to exert a stepwise change in its charged state from negative to modestly positive and highly positive in response to slightly acidic environment of tumor (pH ∼6.7) and further lowered-pH condition of late endosomal compartments (pH ∼5.0), respectively, for selective binding to cancer cell surface and subsequent endosome disruption. This polypeptide, termed PAsp(DET-CDM/DBCO), was synthesized by introducing acid-labile carboxydimethyl maleate (CDM) and dibenzylcyclooctyne (DBCO) moieties into a polyaspartamide derivative bearing two-repeated aminoethylene side chains (PAsp(DET)). Then, PAsp(DET-CDM/DBCO) was installed on the surface of disulfide cross-linked PIC micelles prepared from cholesterol-modified siRNA (Chol-siRNA) and azide-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[(3-mercaptopropylamidine)-L-lysine] (N3-PEG-b-PLys(MPA)) through the copper-free click reaction. Successful PAsp(DET-CDM/DBCO) coverage of PIC micelles was confirmed by a significant decrease in ζ-potential as well as a narrowly distributed size of 40 nm. The PAsp(DET-CDM/DBCO)-installed micelles significantly improved the gene-silencing efficiency in cultured lung cancer cells, compared with nonmodified control micelles, especially after incubation at pH 6.7. This improved silencing activity was nicely correlated with the facilitated cellular uptake of siRNA payloads at the acidic pH and the efficient endosomal escape. These results demonstrate that the acidic pH-responsive polypeptide shell is a promising design strategy for tumor-targeted siRNA delivery.

Association Between White Matter Tract Integrity and Frontal-Executive Function in Non-Geriatric Adult Patients With Major Depressive Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between white matter tract integrity and frontal executive function in adult non-geriatric patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS: In total, 57 patients with MDD and 115 HCs participated in this study. We calculated the integrity of the white matter tracts using the Tracts Constrained by Underlying Anatomy tool (TRACULA) from FreeSurfer. We performed cognitive function tests. Oneway analysis of covariance was used to investigate the DTI parameters as dependent variables; diagnosis of MDD as an independent variable; and age, sex, and education level as covariates. For correlation analysis between the DTI parameters and cognitive function tests, Pearson's partial correlation analyses were performed in the MDD and HC groups. RESULTS: The patients with MDD showed significantly decreased axial diffusivity (AD) in forceps major (FMajor), left corticospinal tract (CST), left superior longitudinal fasciculus-parietal bundle (SLFP), right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), right CST, right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and right superior longitudinal fasciculus-temporal bundle (SLFT) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the left CST, right CST, and right SLFT compared to HCs. We found that non-geriatric patients with MDD showed a significant negative correlation between the response time in the Stroop task and the AD value of the FMajor. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that impaired structural connectivity in the FMajor may be associated with cognitive dysfunction in non-geriatric patients with MDD.

Effect of n-alkyl and sulfonyl groups on the wetting properties of comblike poly(oxyethylene)s and stick-slip behavior.

The influence of side chain length and sulfonyl moiety on the molecular structures and wettability behavior of poly(oxyethylene)s with alkyl sulfonyl side chains (CH(3)-nSE, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10), where n is the number of the carbon atom in the n-alkyl side group, was investigated. CH(3)-nSEs having shorter side chains (n < 5) do not have ordered structures, and their surfaces were found to be more polar than those of CH(3)-nSEs having longer side chains (n ≥ 5). The CH(3)-nSEs having longer side chains show double-layered lamellar structures (n ≥ 5) with well-aligned side chains and low surface energies in the range 21.2-25.8 mN/m. Interestingly, stick-slip behavior was observed only on the surfaces of CH(3)-3SE and CH(3)-4SE when water was used as the test liquid. The surface deformation at the three-phase line was generated from interactions between water and sulfonyl groups, and the optimum side chain lengths were believed to cause the stick-slip behavior.

Antibody fragment-conjugated polymeric micelles incorporating platinum drugs for targeted therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Antibody-mediated therapies including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown much potential in cancer treatment by tumor-targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs. However, there is a limitation of payloads that can be delivered by ADCs. Integration of antibodies to drug-loaded nanocarriers broadens the applicability of antibodies to a wide range of therapeutics. Herein, we developed antibody fragment-installed polymeric micelles via maleimide-thiol conjugation for selectively delivering platinum drugs to pancreatic tumors. By tailoring the surface density of maleimide on the micelles, one tissue factor (TF)-targeting Fab' was conjugated to each carrier. Fab'-installed platinum-loaded micelles exhibited more than 15-fold increased cellular binding within 1 h and rapid cellular internalization compared to non-targeted micelles, leading to superior in vitro cytotoxicity. In vivo, Fab'-installed micelles significantly suppressed the growth of pancreatic tumor xenografts for more than 40 days, outperforming non-targeted micelles and free drugs. These results indicate the potential of Fab'-installed polymeric micelles for efficient drug delivery to solid tumors.

Bacterial adhesion-resistant poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) derivative for mammalian cell cultures.

In an attempting to find new biomaterials for mammalian cell culture, PHEMA derivatives with ester side groups are synthesized by one-step polymer-analogous reaction. These polymers show excellent antifouling properties against S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa while their cytotoxicity and proliferation activity for HDF cell are on a similar level as commercially available TCPS. The interesting bioadhesion property is systematically correlated with surface properties of the PHEMA derivatives.

Inhibition of bacterial adhesion on well ordered comb-like polymer surfaces.

The surfaces of comb-like poly(oxyethylene) derivatives with n-alkylsulfonyl side groups were more effective at reducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion than the surfaces of common materials such as polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(dimethylsiloxane), fluorinated polyacrylate, and glass. When the comb-like poly(oxyethylene) was mixed with polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate), the topology and roughness of the surfaces varied according to the mixture compositions. However the surface energies of the mixtures were close to that of the comb-like poly(oxyethylene) in the range of 21-23 mN/m and bacterial adhesion resistances of the mixture surfaces were also comparable to that of the pure comb-like poly(oxyethylene) surface.