Polymeric Nanovectors Incorporated with Ganciclovir and HSV- Encoding Plasmid for Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy.

In the area of gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT), using herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-) paired with prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) for cancer treatment has been extensively studied. It is a process involved with two steps whereby the gene (HSV-) is first delivered to malignant cells. Afterward, non-toxic GCV is administered to that site and activated to cytotoxic ganciclovir triphosphate by HSV- enzyme expressed exogenously.

Enhanced Anticancer Activity of 5'-DFUR-PCL-MPEG Polymeric Prodrug Micelles Encapsulating Chemotherapeutic Drugs.

The compound 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) is a prodrug of the anti-tumor drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is an enzyme that can convert 5'-DFUR to its active form 5-FU and the expression of TP is upregulated in various cancer cells. In this study, 5'-DFUR associated with amphiphilic copolymer poly(ε-caprolactone)-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (5'-DFUR-PCL-MPEG) was synthesized, characterized, and self-assembled into functional polymeric micelles.

Enhanced astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis using high carbon dioxide concentration and light illumination.

In this study, an economical two-stage method was proposed for the production of natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis without a medium replacement step. In stage 1, H. pluvialis were grown under low light illumination until they reached optimal biomass.

Controlled cutting and hydroxyl functionalization of carbon nanotubes through autoclaving and sonication in hydrogen peroxide.

In this study, an eco-friendly process utilizing a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide along with autoclaving and sonication was developed, accomplishing both carbon nanotube size reduction and hydroxyl functionalization.

Ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by ganciclovir (GCV) for the preparation of GCV-tagged polymeric micelles.

Ganciclovir (GCV) is a nucleoside analogue with antiviral activity against herpes viral infections, and the most widely used antiviral to treat cytomegalovirus infections. However, the low bioavailability and short half-life of GCV necessitate the development of a carrier for sustained delivery. In this study, guanosine-based GCV was used as the initiator directly in ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) to form hydrophobic GCV-poly(caprolactone) (GCV-PCL) which was then grafted with hydrophilic chitosan to form amphiphilic copolymers for the preparation of stable micellar nanoparticles.

Polymeric micelles for acyclovir drug delivery.

Polymeric prodrug micelles for delivery of acyclovir (ACV) were synthesized. First, ACV was used directly to initiate ring-opening polymerization of ɛ-caprolactone to form ACV-polycaprolactone (ACV-PCL). Through conjugation of hydrophobic ACV-PCL with hydrophilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) or chitosan, polymeric micelles for drug delivery were formed.