PEG-Poly(amino acid)s/MicroRNA Complex Nanoparticles Effectively Arrest the Growth and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer.

One of the biggest challenges in developing microRNA (miRNA) based therapeutics is the method of delivery. Herein we report the design and synthesis of mPEG-poly(amino acid)s, which we used as a novel nanocarrier for the delivery of miRNA-139-5p. The PEG-poly(amino acid)s/miRNA-139-5p nanoparticle complex is more effective at suppressing tumor growth and migration in mice with colorectal cancer than when treated with miRNA-139-5p solution and blank nanoparticles individually.

Polymer-Encapsulated Aβ Peptide Fragments as an Oligomeric-Specific Vaccine for Alzheimer's Disease.

Vaccination is regarded as one of the most cost-effective and reliable methods for combating disease. We have developed a new method for an oligomeric Aβ-specific AD vaccination using polymer micelle-encapsulated peptide fragments, which overcome many problems of vaccination associated with the direct use of the Aβ1–42 peptide. We studied different encapsulated forms of shortened Aβ peptides with and without the entire T cell epitope in an APP/PS1 mouse model.

Targeted delivery of tanshinone IIA-conjugated mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD nanoparticles to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) is an active constituent of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza that is known to have anti-tumor properties. In order to increase the selectivity of TSIIA's anti-tumor activity, the current study evaluated the tumor-targeting efficacy of TSIIA incorporated into nanoparticles (NPs). TSIIA was loaded into mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD (methoxy polyethylene glycol, polylactic-co-glycolic acid, poly-L-lysine, cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) nanoparticles (TNPs) and used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

PEG-poly(amino acid)s-encapsulated tanshinone IIA as potential therapeutics for the treatment of hepatoma.

Tanshinone IIA is a potent anti-tumor agent; however, its therapeutic applications have been hindered by its intrinsic poor solubility and short half-life. Herein we report the design and synthesis of amphiphilic PEG-poly(amino acid)s (PPAAs), which were used as a nanocarrier to encapsulate tanshinone IIA. PPAA-encapsulated tanshinone IIA formed defined nanoparticles and effectively arrested the growth of the hepatoma tumor in MHCC97-H hepatoma-bearing mice, which has therefore significantly increased their survival time.

Development of self-immolative dendrimers for drug delivery and sensing.

Traditional dendrimers possess unique cascade-branched structural properties that allow for multivalent modifications with drug cargos, targeting/delivery agents and imaging tools. In addition to multivalency, the dendrimer's macromolecular size also brings about the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, which makes it an attracting agent for drug delivery and biosensing. Similar to other macromolecules, therapeutic application of dendrimers in the human body faces practical challenges such as target specificity and toxicity.

Non-hemolytic α-AApeptides as antimicrobial peptidomimetics.

We report a new class of peptide mimetics, α-AApeptides, that display broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. With non-hemolytic activity, resistance to protease hydrolysis, and easy sequence programmability, α-AApeptides may emerge as a novel class of antibiotics.