Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
 95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The interfacial properties of amphiphilic linear diblock copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) were studied at the air-water (A/W) interface by surface pressure measurements (isotherms and hysteresis experiments). The resulting Langmuir monolayers were transferred onto mica substrates and the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film morphologies were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). All block copolymers had the same PEO segment (Mn = 2670 g/mol) and different PCL chain lengths (Mn = 1270; 2110; 3110 and 4010 g/mol). Isothermal characterization of the block copolymer samples indicated the presence of three distinct phase transitions around 6.5, 10.5, and 13.5 mN/m. The phase transitions at 6.5 and 13.5 mN/m correspond to the dissolution of the PEO segments in the water subphase and crystallization of the PCL blocks above the interface similarly as for the corresponding homopolymers, respectively. The phase transition at 10.5 mN/m was not observed for the homopolymers alone or for their blends and arises from a brush formation of the PEO segments anchored underneath the adsorbed hydrophobic PCL segments. AFM analysis confirmed the presence of PCL crystals in the LB films with unusual hairlike/needlelike architectures significantly different from those obtained for PCL homopolymers.
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PMID:Two-dimensional self-assembly of linear poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) copolymers at the air-water interface. 1724 36

A poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) diblock copolymer was micronized into small micelle-like particles (approximately 80 nm) via dialysis-induced microphase inversion. The enzymatic biodegradation of the PCL portion of these particles in water was in situ investigated inside a recently developed novel differential refractometer. Using this refractometry method, we were able to monitor the real-time biodegradation via the refractive index change (Deltan) of the dispersion because Deltan is directly proportional to the particle mass concentration. We found that the degradation rate is proportional to either the polymer or enzyme concentration. Our results directly support previous speculation on the basis of the light-scattering data that the biodegradation follows the first-order kinetics for a given enzyme concentration. This study not only leads to a better understanding of the enzymatic biodegradation of PCL, but also demonstrates a novel, rapid, noninvasive, and convenient way to test the degradability of polymers.
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PMID:Novel differential refractometry study of the enzymatic degradation kinetics of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) particles dispersed in water. 1726 57

Aqueous solutions of self-assembled nanoparticles formed by biocompatible diblock copolymers of poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PCL-PEO) with the same molar mass of the PEO block (5000 g mol-1) and three different molar masses of the PCL block (5000, 13 000, and 32 000 g mol-1) have been prepared by a fast mixing the copolymer solution in a mild selective solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF)/water, with an excess of water, that is, by quenching the reversible micellization equilibrium, and a subsequent removal of THF by dialysis of the water-rich solution against water. The prepared nanoparticles have been characterized by static and dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy imaging. It was found that stable monodisperse nanoparticles are formed only if the initial mixed solvent contained 90 vol % THF. The results show that the prepared nanoparticles are spherical vesicles with relatively thick hydrophobic walls, that is, spherical core/shell nanoparticles with the hollow core filled with the solvent.
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PMID:Preparation and characterization of self-assembled nanoparticles formed by poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) copolymers with long poly(epsilon-caprolactone) blocks in aqueous solutions. 1726 9

A study is presented of the preparation of gold nanoparticles incorporated into biodegradable micelles. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization, and the hydroxyl end group of the PCL block was modified with thioctic acid using dicyclohexyl carbodiimide as the coupling reagent. The PEO-b-PCL-thioctate ester (TE) thus obtained was used in a later step to form monolayer protected gold nanoparticles via the thioctate spacer. Gold nanoparticles stabilized with the PEO-b-PCL block (named Au/Block (x/y), where x/y is the mole feed ratio between HAuCl4 and PEO-b-PCL-TE) were prepared and analyzed. Au/Block (1/1), Au/Block (2/1), and Au/Block (3/1) nanoparticles were found to form stable dispersions in the organic solvents commonly used to dissolve the unlabeled block copolymer. The average diameter of the nanoparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and found to be 6+/-2 nm. Au/Block (4/1) nanoparticle dispersions in organic solvents, on the other hand, were not stable and produced large gold clusters (50-100 nm). Cluster formation was attributed to the low grafting density of the block copolymer, which facilitates agglomeration. For Au/Block (12/1), along the same trend, only an insoluble product was isolated. Micelles in water were prepared by the slow addition of the dilute Au/Block solution in dimethylformamide into a large excess of water with vigorous stirring. Au/Block (1/1) and Au/Block (2/1) formed nanosized structures of 5-7 nm. TEM images of stained Au/Block (1/1) micelles, made in water, clearly showed the formation of core-shell structures. Au/Block (3/1) micelles, on the other hand, were not stable and large agglomerates a few microns in size were observed. The study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and aggregation behavior of gold-loaded PEO-b-PCL block copolymer micelles, a potential system for drug delivery in conjunction with tissue and subcellular localization studies.
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PMID:Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles by the self-assembly of micellar poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) block copolymer. 1727 4

The purpose of this study was to investigate the solubilization of an amphiphilic drug, i.e, amiodarone (AMI) in methoxy poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ester) micelles of different core structure. The effect of core-forming block structure as well as molecular weight, applied drug to polymer ratios and assembly condition on AMI solubilization; stability of the solubilized formulation upon dilution in phosphate buffer and the hemolytic activity of solubilized AMI against rat red blood cells were assessed and compared to those parameters for the commercial intravenous formulation of AMI. In general, polymeric micelles of different core structure were found to be more efficient in retaining their AMI content upon dilution than surfactant micelles in the commercial formulation of AMI for injection. Micelles with a poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) core were more efficient than poly(D,L-lactide) and poly(L-lactide) cores in the solubilization and stabilization of encapsulated AMI within the carrier. Encapsulation of AMI by methoxy poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (MePEO-b-PCL) micelles having higher PCL chains increased the level of AMI solubilization and decreased its hemolytic activity. Compared to O/W emulsion, application of solvent evaporation method led to higher encapsulation efficiency and lower hemolytic activity for AMI in micelles. An increase in the level of AMI added to the co-solvent evaporation process led to an increase in the solubilized AMI levels, but made the formulation more hemolytic. In conclusion, PEO-b-PCL micelles, particularly those with longer PCL chains, were found to be efficient carriers in encapsulating amphiphilic AMI, retaining encapsulated AMI within the carrier and reducing its hemolytic activity.
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PMID:Solubilization of an amphiphilic drug by poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ester) micelles. 1729 32

An arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) containing model peptide was conjugated to the surface of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) micelles as a ligand that can recognize adhesion molecules overexpressed on the surface of metastatic cancer cells, that is, integrins, and that can enhance the micellar delivery of encapsulated hydrophobic drug into a tumor cell. Toward this goal, PEO-b-PCL copolymers bearing acetal groups on the PEO end were synthesized, characterized, and assembled to polymeric micelles. The acetal group on the surface of the PEO-b-PCL micelles was converted to reactive aldehyde under acidic condition at room temperature. An RGD-containing linear peptide, GRGDS, was conjugated on the surface of the aldehyde-decorated PEO-b-PCL micelles by incubation at room temperature. A hydrophobic fluorescent probe, that is, DiI, was physically loaded in prepared polymeric micelles to imitate hydrophobic drugs loaded in micellar carrier. The cellular uptake of DiI loaded GRGDS-modified micelles by melanoma B16-F10 cells was investigated at 4 and 37 degrees C by fluorescent spectroscopy and confocal microscopy techniques and was compared to the uptake of DiI loaded valine-PEO-b-PCL micelles (as the irrelevant ligand decorated micelles) and free DiI. GRGDS conjugation to polymeric micelles significantly facilitated the cellular uptake of encapsulated hydrophobic DiI most probably by intergrin-mediated cell attachment and endocytosis. The results indicate that acetal-terminated PEO-b-PCL micelles are amenable for introducing targeting moieties on the surface of polymeric micelles and that RGD-peptide conjugated PEO-b-PCL micelles are promising ligand-targeted carriers for enhanced drug delivery to metastatic tumor cells.
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PMID:Conjugation of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptides to poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) micelles for enhanced intracellular drug delivery to metastatic tumor cells. 1731 46

A blend mixture of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was electrospun to produce fibrous meshes that could release a protein drug in a controlled manner. Various biodegradable polymers, such as poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), and poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were dissolved, along with PEO and lysozyme, in a mixture of chloroform and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The mixture was electrospun to produce lysozyme loaded fibrous meshes. Among the polymers, the PCL/PEO blend meshes showed good morphological stability upon incubation in the buffer solution, resulting in controlled release of lysozyme over an extended period with reduced initial bursts. With varying the PCL/PEO blending ratio, the release rate of lysozyme from the corresponding meshes could be readily modulated. The lysozyme release was facilitated by increasing the amount of PEO, indicating that entrapped lysozyme was mainly released out by controlled dissolution of PEO from the blend meshes. Lysozyme released from the electrospun fibers retained sufficient catalytic activity.
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PMID:Controlled protein release from electrospun biodegradable fiber mesh composed of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide). 1732 Oct 84

Well-defined biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PCL-b-PEO) copolymers with different arms were synthesized via controlled ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone, followed by coupling reaction with carboxyl-terminated PEO, where these copolymers included both star-shaped copolymers having four and six arms and linear analogues having one and two arms. When the weight percent of both PCL and PEO blocks within copolymer was similar to each other, the maximal melting temperature, the crystallization temperature, degree of crystallinity, and the spherulitic growth rate of these copolymers decreased with the increasing arm number of polymer. Moreover, the diameter of nanoparticles fabricated from these copolymers had a decreased tendency over the arm number of polymer, while it slightly increased with increasing weight percent of PCL within copolymer. These results indicate that both the arm number of polymer (macromolecular architecture) and the arm length ratio of PCL to PEO not only controlled the crystallization behavior and spherulitic growth, but also adjusted the size of nanoparticles. Significantly, this will provide a starting point not only to improve the physical properties and drug release profiles of PCL-based biomaterials, but also to design new PCL/PEO-based biomaterials from both the arm number of polymer and the balance between hydrophobic PCL and hydrophilic PEO.
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PMID:Synthesis, characterization, effect of architecture on crystallization of biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers with different arms and nanoparticles thereof. 1732 21

Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) macromers (M(n) = 1.7-3.8 kDa) which contain one Z-protected -NH2 group per chain were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone in the presence of Sn(oct)2 using as initiator a diamine prepared by condensation of N-Boc-1,6-hexanediamine and N(alpha)-Boc-N(epsilon)-Z-L-Lysine. The coupling of these macromers with -COCl end-capped poly(oxyethylene) (PEO), M(n) = 1.0 kDa, afforded amphiphilic multiblock poly(ether ester)s (PEEs) which have, along the chain, regularly spaced pendant protected amino groups. Deprotection, accomplished without chain degradation, yielded -NH2 groups available for further reactions. The molecular structure of macromers and PEEs was investigated by 1H NMR and SEC. DSC and WAXS analyses showed that macromers and copolymers were semicrystalline and their T(m) increased with increase in the molecular weight of PCL segments. The inherent viscosity values (0.25-0.30 dL x g(-1)), together with SEC analysis results, indicated moderate polymerization degrees.
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PMID:Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(oxyethylene) multiblock copolymers bearing along the chain regularly spaced pendant amino groups. 1742 11

Although multidrug resistance (MDR) is known to develop through a variety of molecular mechanisms within the tumor cell, many tend to converge toward the alteration of apoptotic signaling. The enzyme glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), responsible for bioactivation of the proapoptotic mediator ceramide to a nonfunctional moiety glucosylceramide, is overexpressed in many MDR tumor types and has been implicated in cell survival in the presence of chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic strategy of coadministering ceramide with paclitaxel, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, in an attempt to restore apoptotic signaling and overcome MDR in the human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3. Poly(ethylene oxide)-modified poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) nanoparticles were used to encapsulate and deliver the therapeutic agents for enhanced efficacy. Results show that indeed the cotherapy eradicates the complete population of MDR cancer cells when they are treated at their IC(50) dose of paclitaxel. More interestingly, when the cotherapy was combined with the properties of nanoparticle drug delivery, the MDR cells can be resensitized to a dose of paclitaxel near the IC(50) of non-MDR (drug sensitive) cells, indicating a 100-fold increase in chemosensitization via this approach. Molecular analysis of activity verified the hypothesis that the efficacy of this therapeutic approach is indeed due to a restoration in apoptotic signaling, although the beneficial properties of PEO-PCL nanoparticle delivery seemed to enhance the therapeutic success even further, showing the promising potential for the clinical use of this therapeutic strategy to overcome MDR.
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PMID:Modulation of intracellular ceramide using polymeric nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer. 1751 Apr 14


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