Functionalized nanospheres for targeted delivery of paclitaxel.

Targeted delivery of anti-cancer agents to cancer cells is a mature line of investigation that has yet to realize its full potential. In this study we report on the development of a delivery platform with the future goal of merging two thus far parallel methods for selective elimination of cancer cells: targeted nanospheres and pretargeted radioimmunotherapy. Several clinical trials have shown the promise of pretargeted radioimmunotherapy, which leverages the specificity of antibodies for targeted cell populations and delivers a localized dose of a biotinylated radionuclide that is most often administered following binding of a biotinylated antibody and streptavidin (StA) to the target cells.

Multifunctional albumin nanoparticles as combination drug carriers for intra-tumoral chemotherapy.

Current cancer therapies are challenged by weakly soluble drugs and by drug combinations that exhibit non-uniform biodistribution and poor bioavailability. In this study, we have presented a new platform of advanced healthcare materials based on albumin nanoparticles (ANPs) engineered as tumor penetrating, delivery vehicles of combinatorially applied factors to solid tumors. These materials were designed to overcome three sequential key barriers: tissue level transport across solid tumor matrix; uptake kinetics into individual cancer cells; therapeutic resistance to single chemotherapeutic drugs.

Development of paclitaxel-TyroSpheres for topical skin treatment.

A potential topical psoriasis therapy has been developed consisting of tyrosine-derived nanospheres (TyroSpheres) with encapsulated anti-proliferative paclitaxel. TyroSpheres provide enhancement of paclitaxel solubility (almost 4000 times greater than PBS) by effective encapsulation and enable sustained, dose-controlled release over 72 h under conditions mimicking skin permeation. TyroSpheres offer potential in the treatment of psoriasis, a disease resulting from over-proliferation of keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, by (a) enabling delivery of paclitaxel into the epidermis at concentrations >100 ng/cm(2) of skin surface area and (b) enhancing the cytotoxicity of loaded paclitaxel to human keratinocytes (IC(50) of paclitaxel-TyroSpheres was approximately 45% lower than that of free paclitaxel).

Ultrafast and fast bioerodible electrospun fiber mats for topical delivery of a hydrophilic peptide.

Biodegradable polymers that provide localized controlled delivery of therapeutics within hours to days may have an impact on the topical treatment of skin burns. Here we report for the first time the utility of tyrosine-derived polycarbonate terpolymer electrospun fiber mats as tunable drug delivery matrices. "Ultrafast" (<24 h) and "fast"-eroding (<7 days) terpolymers were identified.

Paclitaxel in tyrosine-derived nanospheres as a potential anti-cancer agent: in vivo evaluation of toxicity and efficacy in comparison with paclitaxel in Cremophor.

Paclitaxel (PTX) has gained widespread clinical use yet its administration is associated with significant toxicity. In the present study, the toxicity and anti-tumor efficacy of tyrosine-derived nanospheres (NSP) for the delivery of PTX was compared to a clinical formulation of PTX in PBS-diluted Cremophor® EL (PTX-CrEL-D). Maximum tolerated dose was determined using a concentration series of PTX in NSP and CrEL-D, with toxicity assessed by measuring changes in body weight.

Topical drug delivery by a polymeric nanosphere gel: Formulation optimization and in vitro and in vivo skin distribution studies.

Tyrosine-derived nanospheres have demonstrated potential as effective carriers for the topical delivery of lipophilic molecules. In this investigation, a gel formulation containing nanospheres was developed for effective skin application and enhanced permeation. Carbopol and HPMC hydrophilic gels were evaluated for dispersion of these nanospheres.

Polymer-drug interactions in tyrosine-derived triblock copolymer nanospheres: a computational modeling approach.

A combination of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and docking calculations was employed to model and predict polymer-drug interactions in self-assembled nanoparticles consisting of ABA-type triblock copolymers, where A-blocks are poly(ethylene glycol) units and B-blocks are low molecular weight tyrosine-derived polyarylates. This new computational approach was tested on three representative model compounds: nutraceutical curcumin, anticancer drug paclitaxel and prehormone vitamin D3. Based on this methodology, the calculated binding energies of polymer-drug complexes can be correlated with maximum drug loading determined experimentally.

Interplay of anionic charge, poly(ethylene glycol), and iodinated tyrosine incorporation within tyrosine-derived polycarbonates: Effects on vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, and motility.

Regulation of smooth muscle cell adhesion, proliferation, and motility on biomaterials is critical to the performance of blood-contacting implants and vascular tissue engineering scaffolds. The goal of this study was to examine the underlying substrate-smooth muscle cell response relations, using a selection of polymers representative of an expansive library of multifunctional, tyrosine-derived polycarbonates. Three chemical components within the polymer structure were selectively varied through copolymerization: (1) the content of iodinated tyrosine to achieve X-ray visibility; (2) the content of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to decrease protein adsorption and cell adhesivity; and (3) the content of desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine (DT), which regulates the rate of polymer degradation.

Effect of tyrosine-derived triblock copolymer compositions on nanosphere self-assembly and drug delivery.

We have obtained structure-activity relations for nanosphere drug delivery as a function of the chemical properties of a tunable family of self-assembling triblock copolymers. These block copolymers are synthesized with hydrophobic oligomers of a desaminotyrosyl tyrosine ester and diacid and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol). We have calculated the thermodynamic interaction parameters for the copolymers with anti-tumor drugs to provide an understanding of the drug binding by the nanospheres.

Hydrophobic drug delivery by self-assembling triblock copolymer-derived nanospheres.

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a family of biocompatible ABA-triblock copolymers that comprised of hydrophilic A-blocks of poly(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic B-blocks of oligomers of suberic acid and desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine esters. The triblock copolymers spontaneously self-assemble in aqueous solution into nanospheres, with hydrodynamic diameters between 40 and 70 nm, that do not dissociate under chromatographic and ultracentrifugation conditions. These nanospheres form strong complexes with hydrophobic molecules, including the fluorescent dye 5-dodecanoylaminofluorescein (DAF) and the antitumor drug, paclitaxel, but not with hydrophilic molecules such as fluorescein and Oregon Green.

Photoaffinity labeling on magnetic microspheres (PALMm) methodology for topographic mapping: preparation of PALMm reagents and demonstration of biochemical relevance.

Photoaffinity labeling (PAL) is a technique widely used for identifying the binding-site within proteins. Although the classic method is both versatile and powerful, it suffers significant disadvantages, such as the need to radiolabel the PAL ligand, and the need to conduct highly complicated separations of both the labeled protein and the labeled peptides derived from it. Here, we propose a novel and universal methodology--Photo-Affinity Labeling on Magnetic microspheres (PALMm) designed to simplify and shorten the PAL protocol.