Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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The triblock copolymer based on poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) as hydrophobic part and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as hydrophilic one was synthesized and characterized. Core-shell type nanoparticles of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (CEC) block copolymer were prepared by a dialysis technique. According to the amphiphilic characters, CEC block copolymer can self-associate at certain concentration and their critical association concentration (CAC) was determined by fluorescence probe technique. CAC value of the CEC-2 block copolymer was evaluated as 0.0030 g/l. CAC values of CEC block copolymer decreased with the increase of PCL chain length, i.e. the shorter the PCL chain length, the higher the CAC values. From the observation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the morphologies of CEC-2 core-shell type nanoparticles were spherical shapes. Particle size of CEC-2 nanoparticles was 32.3+/-17.3 nm as a monomodal and narrow distribution. Particle size, drug loading, and drug release rate of CEC-2 nanoparticles were changed by the initial solvents and the molecular weight of CEC. The degradation behavior of CEC-2 nanoparticles was observed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. It was suggested that clonazepam (CNZ) release kinetics were dominantly governed by diffusion mechanism.
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PMID:Clonazepam release from core-shell type nanoparticles of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) triblock copolymers. 1086 53

Nanoparticles possessing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains on their surface have been described as blood persistent drug delivery system with potential applications for intravenous drug administration. Considering the importance of protein interactions with injected colloidal dug carriers with regard to their in vivo fate, we analysed plasma protein adsorption onto biodegradable PEG-coated poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(varepsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticles employing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). A series of corona/core nanoparticles of sizes 160-270 nm were prepared from diblock PEG-PLA, PEG-PLGA and PEG-PCL and from PEG-PLA:PLA blends. The PEG Mw was varied from 2000-20000 g/mole and the particles were prepared using different PEG contents. It was thus possible to study the influence of the PEG corona thickness and density, as well as the influence of the nature of the core (PLA, PLGA or PCL), on the competitive plasma protein adsorption, zeta potential and particle uptake by polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells. 2-D PAGE studies showed that plasma protein adsorption on PEG-coated PLA nanospheres strongly depends on the PEG molecular weight (Mw) (i.e. PEG chain length at the particle surface) as well as on the PEG content in the particles (i.e. PEG chain density at the surface of the particles). Whatever the thickness or the density of the corona, the qualitative composition of the plasma protein adsorption patterns was very similar, showing that adsorption was governed by interaction with a PLA surface protected more or less by PEG chains. The main spots on the gels were albumin, fibrinogen, IgG, Ig light chains, and the apolipoproteins apoA-I and apoE. For particles made of PEG-PLA45K with different PEG Mw, a maximal reduction in protein adsorption was found for a PEG Mw of 5000 g/mole. For nanospheres differing in their PEG content from 0.5 to 20 wt %, a PEG content between 2 and 5 wt % was determined as a threshold value for optimal protein resistance. When increasing the PEG content in the nanoparticles above 5 wt % no further reduction in protein adsorption was achieved. Phagocytosis by PMN studied using chemiluminescence and zeta potential data agreed well with these findings: the same PEG surface density threshold was found to ensure simultaneously efficient steric stabilization and to avoid the uptake by PMN cells. Supposing all the PEG chains migrate to the surface, this would correspond to a distance of about 1.5 nm between two terminally attached PEG chains in the covering 'brush'. Particles from PEG5K-PLA45K, PEG5K-PLGA45K and PEG5K-PCL45K copolymers enabled to study the influence of the core on plasma protein adsorption, all other parameters (corona thickness and density) being kept constant. Adsorption patterns were in good qualitative agreement with each other. Only a few protein species were exclusively present just on one type of nanoparticle. However, the extent of proteins adsorbed differed in a large extent from one particle to another. In vivo studies could help elucidating the role of the type and amount of proteins adsorbed on the fate of the nanoparticles after intraveinous administration, as a function of the nature of their core. These results could be useful in the design of long circulating intravenously injectable biodegradable drug carriers endowed with protein resistant properties and low phagocytic uptake.
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PMID:'Stealth' corona-core nanoparticles surface modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG): influences of the corona (PEG chain length and surface density) and of the core composition on phagocytic uptake and plasma protein adsorption. 1091 52

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modification of substances with antitumor activity was shown to enhance penetration into growing solid tumors and extend antitumor effects. Accordingly, PEG was introduced as a modifier to two types of monoclonal antibodies (N12 and L26) specific to the ErbB2 (HER2) oncoprotein. These antibodies suppress the growth of tumors overexpressing ErbB2 (e.g. N87 human tumor) and the effect of PEG on their antitumor activity was evaluated. Methoxy-PEG-maleimide conjugated to sulfhydryl groups at the hinge region of the antibodies impaired their antibody binding to N87 tumor cells and did not enhance the antitumor inhibitory activity in tumor-bearing mice. A branched N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated PEG (PEG2), conjugated through amino groups of the protein, was used for binding to the whole antibody (Ab) or to its monomeric Fab' fragment. When tested against N87 cells in vitro, the binding activity and antitumor cytotoxic effects of Ab-PEG2 were mostly preserved. PEG2 modification did not seem to alter the tumor-inhibitory activity of the antibodies in vivo and the same pattern of tumor development was observed during the first few weeks following administration. However, the stimulating effects of PEG were observed at later stages of tumor growth since tumor development was either slowed down or completely arrested. Furthermore, a second tumor implanted into the same mice during this later stage was significantly or completely inhibited, as compared to results in mice injected with the unmodified antibody. The Fab'-PEG2 monomeric derivative was also shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of a second tumor. The extended and prolonged enhancing effect of PEG on the antitumor activity of antibodies or Fab' fragments directed against ErbB2 may be of importance in the treatment of ErbB2-overexpressing neoplasms.
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PMID:Inhibition of tumor growth by poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives of anti-ErbB2 antibodies. 1094 5

This study was designed to systematically investigate the characteristics of bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded poly(epsilon-caprolactine) (PCL) microparticles based on a 2(4) factorial experiment. The influences of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) concentration, BSA/PCL ratio, w/o/o/o ratio, and PEG/PCL ratio on the surface morphology, particle size, as well as the yield of microparticles, encapsulation efficiency of BSA, and in vitro release properties were evaluated. The microparticles were prepared by the w/o/o/o solvent evaporation method. The structure of BSA retained its integrity using this technique. The mean particle sizes of BSA-loded microparticles were in the range of 20-50 microm, and a highly porous morphology existed in these microparticles, irrespective of the formulations. The production yields of microparticles were in the range of 52.1-89.0%, and the encapsulation efficiencies were in the range of 13.8-68.3%. The burst release of BSA was in the range of 6.9-69.0%. The volume ration of the multi-phases significantly affected the encapsulation efficiency of BSA in PCL microparticles, and the initial amount of BSA encapsulated by PCL in terms of BSA/PCL ratio significantly affected the amount of BSA released at the end of 14 days (p < 0.05).
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PMID:Characterization of protein-loaded poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microparticles based on a factorial design. 1125 35

A number of fluorescent probes have been used to follow membrane fusion events, particularly intermixing of lipids. None of them is ideal. The most popular pair of probes is NBD-PE and Rh-PE, in which the fluorescent groups are attached to the lipid headgroups, making them sensitive to changes in the surrounding medium. Here we present a new assay for monitoring lipid transfer during membrane fusion using the acyl chain tagged fluorescent probes BODIPY500-PC and BODIPY530-PE. Like the NBD-PE/Rh-PE assay, this assay is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the donor, BODIPY500, and the acceptor, BODIPY530. The magnitude of FRET is sensitive to the probe surface concentration, allowing one to detect movement of probes from labeled to unlabeled vesicles during fusion. The high quantum yield of fluorescence, high efficiency of FRET (R(o) is estimated to be approximately 60 A), photostability, and localization in the central hydrophobic region of a bilayer all make this pair of probes quite promising for detecting fusion. We have compared this and two other lipid mixing assays for their abilities to detect the initial events of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-mediated fusion of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs). We found that the BODIPY500/530 assay showed lipid transfer rates consistent with those obtained using the DPHpPC self-quenching assay, while lipid mixing rates measured with the NBD-PE/Rh-PE RET assay were significantly slower. We speculate that the bulky labeled headgroups of NBD-PE and especially Rh-PE molecules hamper movement of probes through the stalk between fusing vesicles, and thus reduce the apparent rate of lipid mixing.
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PMID:The rate of lipid transfer during fusion depends on the structure of fluorescent lipid probes: a new chain-labeled lipid transfer probe pair. 1144 75

With the aim of generating gene delivery systems for tumor targeting, we have synthesized a conjugate consisting of polyethylenimine (PEI) covalently modified with epidermal growth factor (EGF) peptides. Transfection efficiency of the conjugate was evaluated and compared to native PEI in three tumor cell lines: KB epidermoid carcinoma cells, CMT-93 rectum carcinoma cells, and Renca-EGFR renal carcinoma cells. Depending on the tumor cell line, incorporation of EGF resulted in an up to 300-fold increased transfection efficiency. This ligand-mediated enhancement and competition with free EGF strongly suggested uptake of the complexes through the EGF receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway. Shielded particles being crucial for systemic gene delivery, we studied the effect of covalent surface modification of EGF-PEI/DNA complexes with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivative. An alternative way for the formation of PEGylated EGF-containing complexes was also evaluated where EGF was projected away from PEI/DNA core complexes through a PEG linker. Both strategies led to shielded particles still able to efficiently transfect tumor cells in a receptor-dependent fashion. These PEGylated EGF-containing complexes were 10- to 100-fold more efficient than PEGylated complexes without EGF.
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PMID:Different strategies for formation of pegylated EGF-conjugated PEI/DNA complexes for targeted gene delivery. 1145 57

We have generated anti-HER2 (ErbB2) immunoliposomes (ILs), consisting of long circulating liposomes linked to anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (MAb) fragments, to provide targeted drug delivery to HER2-overexpressing cells. Immunoliposomes were constructed using a modular strategy in which components were optimized for internalization and intracellular drug delivery. Parameters included choice of antibody construct, antibody density, antibody conjugation procedure, and choice of liposome construct. Anti-HER2 immunoliposomes bound efficiently to and internalized in HER2-overexpressing cells in vitro as determined by fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, and quantitative analysis of fluorescent probe delivery. Delivery via ILs in HER2-overexpressing cells yielded drug uptake that was up to 700-fold greater than with non-targeted sterically stabilized liposomes. In vivo, anti-HER2 ILs showed extremely long circulation as stable constructs in normal adult rats after a single i.v. dose, with pharmacokinetics that were indistinguishable from sterically stabilized liposomes. Repeat administrations revealed no increase in clearance, further confirming that ILs retain the long circulation and non-immunogenicity of sterically stabilized liposomes. In five different HER2-overexpressing xenograft models, anti-HER2 ILs loaded with doxorubicin (dox) showed potent anticancer activity, including tumor inhibition, regressions, and cures (pathologic complete responses). ILs were significantly superior vs. all other treatment conditions tested: free dox, liposomal dox, free MAb (trastuzumab), and combinations of dox+MAb or liposomal dox+MAb. For example, ILs produced significantly superior antitumor effects vs. non-targeted liposomes (P values from <0.0001 to 0.04 in eight separate experiments). In a non-HER2-overexpressing xenograft model (MCF7), ILs and non-targeted liposomal dox produced equivalent antitumor effects. Detailed studies of tumor localization indicated a novel mechanism of drug delivery for anti-HER2 ILs. Immunotargeting did not increase tumor tissue levels of ILs vs. liposomes, as both achieved very high tumor localization (7.0-8.5% of injected dose/g tissue) in xenograft tumors. However, histologic studies using colloidal-gold labeled ILs demonstrated efficient intracellular delivery in tumor cells, while non-targeted liposomes accumulated within stroma, either extracellularly or within macrophages. In the MCF7 xenograft model lacking HER2-overexpression, no difference in tumor cell uptake was seen, with both ILs and non-targeted liposomes accumulating within stroma. Thus, anti-HER2 ILs, but not non-targeted liposomes, achieve intracellular drug delivery via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and this mechanism is associated with superior antitumor activity. Based on these results, anti-HER2 immunoliposomes have been developed toward clinical trials. Reengineering of construct design for clinical use has been achieved, including: new anti-HER2 scFv F5 generated by screening of a phage antibody library for internalizing anti-HER2 phage antibodies; modifications of the scFv expression construct to support large scale production and clinical use; and development of methods for large-scale conjugation of antibody fragments with liposomes. We developed a scalable two-step protocol for linkage of scFv to preformed and drug-loaded liposomes. Our final, optimized anti-HER2 ILs-dox construct consists of F5 conjugated to derivatized PEG-PE linker and incorporated into commercially available liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil). Finally, further studies of the mechanism of action of anti-HER2 ILs-dox suggest that this strategy may provide optimal delivery of anthracycline-based chemotherapy to HER2-overexpressing cancer cells in the clinic, while circumventing the cardiotoxicity associated with trastuzumab+anthracycline. We conclude that anti-HER2 immunoliposomes represent a promising technology for tumor-targeted drug delivery, and that this strategy may also be applicable to other receptor targets and/or using other delivered agents.
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PMID:Tumor targeting using anti-her2 immunoliposomes. 1148 87

This study was systematically designed to compare bovine serum albumin (BSA) loaded poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) microparticles based on a 2(3) factorial experiment. The microparticles were prepared by the holt-melt technique without using an organic solvent for polymer solubilization. The influence of the particle size of protein, protein/polymer ratio, and hydrophilic PEG on the surface morphology, particle size as well as the yield of PCL microparticles, encapsulation efficiency of BSA, and in vitro release properties were investigated. The structure of BSA remained its integrity using this technique. The mean particle size of BSA-loaded microparticles were in the range of 12.7 +/- 0.1-16.9 +/- 0.8 microm, and all of the particles were smooth on the surface. The production yield of microparticles and the encapsulation efficiencies were high, and the values were in the range of 94.8 +/- 1.6%-98.1 +/- 1.0% and 94.9 +/- 9.6%-98.6 + 0.3%, respectively. The burst release of BSA was in the range of 8.2 +/- 0.4%-61.0 +/- 0.8%, which strongly depended on the formulation. None of three variables affected the yield of microparticles prepared from eight formulations (p > 0.05). However, the particle size of BSA significantly affected the size and the burst release as well as the cumulative release of protein in these microparticles (p < 0.05). The initial loading of BSA in terms of BSA/PCL ratio and the amount of PEG blended with PCL significantly affected all of the properties, except the yield (p < 0.05). The smaller the particle size of the BSA, the smaller the size of the resulting microparticles. Since the total surface area of the small particles was larger than that of the large particles, this accounted for the high burst release of protein from the microparticles encapsulating triturated-BSA.
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PMID:Comparison of protein loaded poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microparticles prepared by the hot-melt technique. 1150 64

The multiblock copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) and biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)s (PCLs) were synthesized through one-step condensation copolymerization with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as a coupling agent. The typical phase diagram of these multiblock copolymers in aqueous solution displayed a critical gel concentration (CGC) and an upper phase-transition temperature, which were mainly determined by the PEG/PCL block ratio, the PEG or PCL block lengths and the molecular weight. With decreasing PEG/PCL block ratio, the CGC decreased with an elevated sol-gel transition temperature on account of the enhanced hydrophobicity. The HDI/Diols ratio was used to control the molecular weight. At high molecular weights, the CGC decreased, related to the enhanced aggregation of PCL blocks and physical crosslinkage between PCL block domains due to the increased number of PCL blocks in each molecule. For the sample containing the long PCL(2000) block (M(n), 2000), the CGC dropped dramatically due to the high hydrophobicity and the poor compatibility between PCL and PEG. The dynamic phase transition process was observed by combining optical microscopy (OM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in a certain heating/cooling rate. Finally, a possible phase separation-induced gelation mechanism is suggested.
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PMID:Thermoreversible gelation of biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers in aqueous solutions. 1151 8

The objective of this study was designed to extend the application of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) in delivery of macromolecular proteins. The strategy applied here is to create a porous structure in PCL films in order to control the diffusion rate of protein. Various amounts of both high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were used as pore-forming agents. The porous films were prepared by a solvent-casting-leaching method. The thicknesses of the prepared films were controlled to be in the range of 75.3 +/- 0.6 similar 81.7 +/- 0.6 mum. The pore fraction of films was determined to be 27.7 +/- 1.0% similar 52.5 +/- 0.8% for PEG(10000) and 26.6 +/- 1.8% similar 48.8 +/- 1.4% for PEG(4000). The pore fraction initially increased with increasing amounts of PEG, independent of the molecular weight of PEG. In the permeation study, lysozyme was used as a model diffuser. The permeation rate of protein increased as the pore fraction of films increased, especially when 30 similar 40% of PEG was added initially, and this phenomenon was more prominent when low-molecular-weight PEG was used. This result was probably due to the highly porous structure creating interconnected channels in the films, further enhancing protein diffusion. In addition, the size of micropores formed by PEG(4000) was observed to be larger than by PEG(10000), which also accounted for faster permeation rate of lysozyme through PCL-PEG(4000) porous films.
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PMID:Permeation of protein from porous poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films. 1187 Jun 57


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