Complex Structures Made Simple - Continuous Flow Production of Core Cross-Linked Polymeric Micelles for Paclitaxel Pro-Drug-Delivery.

Translating innovative nanomaterials to medical products requires efficient manufacturing techniques that enable large-scale high-throughput synthesis with high reproducibility. Drug carriers in medicine embrace a complex subset of tasks calling for multifunctionality. Here, the synthesisof pro-drug-loaded core cross-linked polymeric micelles (CCPMs) in a continuous flow processis reported, which combines the commonly separated steps of micelle formation, core cross-linking, functionalization, and purification into a single process.

Squaric Ester-Based Nanogels Induce No Distinct Protein Corona but Entrap Plasma Proteins into their Porous Hydrogel Network.

After intravenous administration of nanocarriers, plasma proteins may rapidly adsorb onto their surfaces. This process hampers the prediction of the nanocarriers' pharmacokinetics as it determines their physiological identity in a complex biological environment. Toward clinical translation it is therefore an essential prerequisite to investigate the nanocarriers' interaction with plasma proteins.

Targeted Drug Delivery for Sustainable Crop Protection: Transport and Stability of Polymeric Nanocarriers in Plants.

Spraying of agrochemicals (pesticides, fertilizers) causes environmental pollution on a million-ton scale. A sustainable alternative is target-specific, on-demand drug delivery by polymeric nanocarriers. Trunk injections of aqueous nanocarrier dispersions can overcome the biological size barriers of roots and leaves and allow distributing the nanocarriers through the plant.

Immunoglobulins on the surface of differently charged polymer nanoparticles.

The overall success of nanocarriers in biomedical applications depends on their interaction with different proteins in blood. Immunoglobulins as a major protein class of the blood proteome may considerably influence the identity of the nanocarriers in blood. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the specific details of the interaction mechanism between different immunoglobulins and nanocarriers.

Understanding the elusive protein corona of thermoresponsive nanogels.

Aim: We analyzed the protein corona of thermoresponsive, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)- or poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide)-based nanogels.

Materials & Methods: Traces of protein corona detected after incubation in human serum were characterized by proteomics and dynamic light scattering in undiluted serum.

Results: Apolipoprotein B-100 and albumin were the main components of the protein coronae.

The Transferability from Animal Models to Humans: Challenges Regarding Aggregation and Protein Corona Formation of Nanoparticles.

Nanomaterials are interesting candidates for applications in medicine as drug delivery or diagnostic agents. For safe application, they have to be evaluated in in vitro and in vivo models to finally be translated to human clinical trials. However, often those transfer processes fail, and it is not completely understood whether in vitro models leading to these animal models can reliably be compared to the situation in humans.

Determination of molar masses of macromolecules by size exclusion chromatography-light scattering not requiring knowledge of refractive index increments.

A new approach for the calibration of SEC-light scattering (SEC-LS) setups is proposed, which requires solely the molar mass of a reference polymer. Neither the specific refractive index increment of the calibrant nor of the analyte is required. Comparison of the molar masses derived in different solvents for a large number of chemically different polymers shows that the new approach yields the same molar masses as if molar masses were derived using dn/dc to calibrate the light scattering setup.

Zirconium oxocluster/polymer hybrid nanoparticles prepared by photoactivated miniemulsion copolymerization.

The photoactivated free radical miniemulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the zirconium oxocluster ZrO(methacrylate) is used as an effective and fast preparation method for polymer/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles. The oxoclusters, covalently anchored to the polymer network, act as metal-organic cross-linkers, thus improving the thermomechanical properties of the resulting hybrid nanoparticles. Benzoin carbonyl organic compounds were used as photoinitiators.

Osmotic pressure-dependent release profiles of payloads from nanocontainers by co-encapsulation of simple salts.

The encapsulation of payloads in micro- to nano-scale capsules allows protection of the payload from the surrounding environment and control of its release profile. Herein, we program the release of hydrophilic payloads from nanocontainers by co-encapsulating simple inorganic salts for adjusting the osmotic pressure. The latter either leads to a burst release at high concentrations of co-encapsulated salts or a sustained release at lower concentrations.

Solvent induced phenomena in a dendronized linear polymer.

The properties of a dendronized linear polymer (DP) in dilute solutions depending on solvent quality and temperature are described. The polymer has a contour length of  = 1,060 nm. The sample of the fourth generation (PG4) was analyzed in the thermodynamically good solvents dioxane, chloroform, and methanol.

Poly(vinyl phosphonic acid): Hydrodynamic Properties and SEC-Calibration in Aqueous Solution.

Poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) (PVPA) as obtained by free radical polymerization of aqueous vinyl phosphonic acid was studied by light scattering (SLS, DLS) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) in dilute aqueous solutions containing sufficient salt in order to screen long range electrostatic interactions. Samples of 37<$\overline M _{\rm w}$< 110 × 10(3) were studied. The polymers showed positive A(2) -values in aqueous NaH(2) PO(4) solution (0.

Cationic shape-persistent macrocycles: the unexpected formation of a nano-size supramolecular dimer.

Shape-persistent macrocycles with a rigid pyridyl core and a flexible oligo-alkyl corona aggregate to some extent in nonpolar solvents to form large (tubular) aggregates. To increase the assembling tendency, the intraannular pyridyl groups of the macrocycles were alkylated. Unexpectedly, the quarternized macrocycles show no tendency at all to form tubular micellar-like structures but form well-defined dimers, as determined by X-ray and dynamic light scattering.