Synthesis and Structure Optimization of Star Copolymers as Tunable Macromolecular Carriers for Minimal Immunogen Vaccine Delivery.

Minimal immunogen vaccines are being developed to focus antibody responses against otherwise challenging targets, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but multimerization of the minimal peptide immunogen on a carrier platform is required for activity. Star copolymers comprising multiple hydrophilic polymer chains ("arms") radiating from a central dendrimer unit ("core") were recently reported to be an effective platform for arraying minimal immunogens for inducing antibody responses in mice and primates. However, the impact of different parameters of the star copolymer (e.

Iron-based compounds coordinated with phospho-polymers as biocompatible probes for dual P/H magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy.

In this work, we present the synthesis and evaluation of magnetic resonance (MR) properties of novel phosphorus/iron-containing probes for dual P and H MR imaging and spectroscopy (MRI and MRS). The presented probes are composed of biocompatible semitelechelic and multivalent phospho-polymers based on poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (pMPC) coordinated with small paramagnetic Fe ions or superparamagnetic maghemite (γ-FeO) nanoparticles via deferoxamine group linked to the end or along the polymer chains. All probes provided very short H T and T relaxation times even at low iron concentrations.

Tumor-specific targeting of polymer drug delivery systems with recombinant proteins bound via tris(nitrilotriacetic acid).

Antibody-mediated targeting is an efficient strategy to enhance the specificity and selectivity of polymer nanomedicines towards the target site, typically a tumor. However, direct covalent coupling of an antibody with a polymer usually results in a partial damage of the antibody binding site accompanied with a compromised biological activity. Here, an original solution based on well-defined non-covalent interactions between tris-nitrilotriacetic acid (trisNTA) and hexahistidine (His-tag) groups, purposefully introduced to the structure of each macromolecule, is described.

Phosphorus-Containing Polymers as Sensitive Biocompatible Probes for P Magnetic Resonance.

The visualization of organs and tissues using P magnetic resonance (MR) imaging represents an immense challenge. This is largely due to the lack of sensitive biocompatible probes required to deliver a high-intensity MR signal that can be distinguished from the natural biological background. Synthetic water-soluble phosphorus-containing polymers appear to be suitable materials for this purpose due to their adjustable chain architecture, low toxicity, and favorable pharmacokinetics.

Phosphorus-Containing Polymeric Zwitterion: A Pioneering Bioresponsive Probe for P-Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

P-magnetic resonance (MR) is an important diagnostic technique currently used for tissue metabolites assessing, but it also has great potential for visualizing the internal body structures. However, due to the low physiological level of phosphorus-containing biomolecules, precise imaging requires the administration of an exogenous probe. Herein, this work describes the synthesis and MR characterization of a pioneering metal-free P-MR probe based on phosphorus-containing polymeric zwitterion.

Specific Inhibition of VanZ-Mediated Resistance to Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotics.

Teicoplanin is a natural lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with a similar activity spectrum as vancomycin; however, it has with the added benefit to the patient of low cytotoxicity. Both teicoplanin and vancomycin antibiotics are actively used in medical practice in the prophylaxis and treatment of severe life-threatening infections caused by gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant , and . The expression of (), encoded either in the () glycopeptide antibiotic resistance gene cluster or in the genomes of , as well as and , was shown to specifically compromise the antibiotic efficiency through the inhibition of teicoplanin binding to the bacterial surface.