Publications by authors named "Jun-Zi Wu"

Background: Compared with random copolymers, block copolymerization is easier to prepare for nanoparticles with core-shell structure, and they will have better glucose sensitivity and higher insulin loading.

Purpose: In our study, insulin-loaded poly (3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid-block-N-vinyl caprolactam) p(AAPBA-b-NVCL) nanoparticles were successfully prepared and were glucose-sensitive, which could effectively lower the blood sugar levels within 72 hrs.

Methods: The polymer of p(AAPBA-b-NVCL) was produced by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization based on different ratios of 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) and N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL), and its structure was discussed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance .

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Porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were prepared, loaded with insulin, and then coated in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and a novel boronic acid-containing copolymer [poly(acrylamide phenyl boronic acid-co-N-vinylcaprolactam); p(AAPBA-co-NVCL)]. Multilayer microspheres were generated using a layer-by-layer approach depositing alternating coats of PVA and p(AAPBA-co-NVCL) on the PLGA surface, with the optimal system found to be that with eight alternating layers of each coating. The resultant material comprised spherical particles with a porous PLGA core and the pores covered in the coating layers.

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A high-strength regenerated bacterial cellulose (RBC)/bacterial cellulose (BC) microfilament of potential use as a biomaterial was successfully prepared via a wet spinning process. The BC not only consists of a 3-D network composed of nanofibers with a diameter of several hundred nanometers but also has a secondary structure consisting of highly oriented nanofibrils with a diameter ranging from a few nanometers to tens of nanometers which explains the reason for the high mechanical strength of BC. Furthermore, a strategy of partially dissolving BC was used and this greatly enhanced the mechanical performance of spun filament and a method called post-treatment was utilized to remove residual solvents from the RBC/BC filaments.

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Glucose- and temperature-sensitive polymers of a phenylboronic acid derivative and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (poly(3-acrylamidophenyl boronic acid--diethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate); p(AAPBA--DEGMA)) were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Successful polymerization was evidenced by H nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, and the polymers were further explored in terms of their glass transition temperatures and by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The materials were found to be temperature sensitive, with lower critical solution temperatures in the region of 12°C-47°C depending on the monomer ratio used for reaction.

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A new block polymer named poly 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid-b-6-O-vinylazeloyl-d-galactose (p(AAPBA-b-OVZG)) was prepared using 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) and 6-O-vinylazeloyl-d-galactose (OVZG) via a two-step procedure involving S-1-dodecyl-S-(α', α'-dimethyl-α″-acetic acid) trithiocarbonate (DDATC) as chain transfer agent, 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator and dimethyl formamide (DMF) as solvent. The structures of the polymer were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and H NMR and the thermal stability was determined by thermal gravimetric analysis (TG/DTG). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were utilized to evaluate the morphology and properties of the p(AAPBA-b-OVZG) nanoparticles.

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Poly N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylamidophenylboronic acid p(NVCL-co-AAPBA) was prepared from N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) and 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA), using 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The synthesis and structure of the polymer were examined by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and (1)H-NMR. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to characterize the nanoparticles, CD spectroscopy was used to determine if there were any changes to the conformation of the insulin, and cell and animal toxicity were also investigated.

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Wet spun microfibers have great potential in the design of multifunctional controlled release materials. Curcumin (Cur) and vitamin E acetate (Vit. E Ac) were used as a model drug system to evaluate the potential application of the drug-loaded microfiber system for enhanced delivery.

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