Nanofibers as precursors for the rapid formation of hydrogels.

Hydrogels can be used in surgeries, which require a support material to maintain the correct anatomy. One major limitation is however the time required for the preparation of hydrogels under urgent conditions. Herein, we report a new method for a very fast preparation of hydrogels at room temperature.

Marrying the incompatible for better: Incorporation of hydrophobic payloads in superhydrophilic hydrogels.

Hypothesis: The entrapment of lyophobic in superhydrophilic hydrogels is challenging because of the intrinsic incompatibility between hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. To achieve such entrapment without affecting the hydrogel's formation, the electrospinning of nanodroplets or nanoparticles with a water-soluble polymer could reduce the incompatibility through the reduction of interfacial tension and the formation of a barrier film preventing coalescence or aggregation.

Experiments: Nanodroplets or nanoparticles dispersion are electrospun in the presence of a hydrophilic polymer in hydrogel precursors.

Nanocapsules with excellent biocompatibility and stability in protein solutions.

Silica nanocapsules (SiONCs) are usually prepared with cationic surfactants that are not cytocompatible. Dialysis can be used to remove surfactants but leads to instability of the SiONCs when they are in the presence of proteins or biological media. Herein, SiONCs stabilized with a reactive surfactant are synthesized to prevent leaching upon dialysis.

Halochromic Polymer Nanosensors for Simple Visual Detection of Local pH in Coatings.

Replacing metallic structures before critical damage is beneficial for safety and for saving energy and resources. One simple approach consists in visually monitoring the early stage of corrosion, and related change of pH, of coated metals. We prepare smart nanoparticle additives for coatings which act as a pH sensor.

Inflammation-responsive nanocapsules for the dual-release of antibacterial drugs.

Herein, we design inflammation-responsive nanocapsules containing two antibiotics. The releases are programmed to be triggered under conditions occurring at the different stages of wound healing. The nanocapsules exhibit excellent antibacterial activities against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

pH-Responsive Nanofibers for Precise and Sequential Delivery of Multiple Payloads.

Effective combination therapies can be achieved by programming materials for controlling release sequence, timing, and dose of multiple payloads. Herein, we synthesize dextran esters by coesterification of dextran, which display responsive properties at a precise pH threshold between 5.0 and 7.

Emulsion Techniques for the Production of Pharmacological Nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles have the advantages over micron-sized particles to typically provide higher intracellular uptake and drug bioavailability. Emulsion techniques are commonly used methods for producing nanoparticles aiming at high encapsulation efficiency, high stability, and low toxicity. Here, the recent developments of nanoparticles prepared from emulsions, the synthesis of nanoparticles, their physicochemical properties, and their biomedical applications are discussed.

Study of biodistribution and systemic toxicity of glucose functionalized SPIO/DOX micelles.

The present study examined the cytotoxicity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) distribution of cancer-targeted, MRI-visible polymeric micelles that encapsulate doxorubicin (DOX) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and are conjugated with glucose as a targeting ligand. In this study, the micelles were investigated the clinical potential of glucose-micelles, cytotoxicity assays of nonencapsulating or SPIO-and-DOX-coencapsulating micelles were performed on L929 mouse fibroblasts, and we found that glucose-micelles did not exert cytotoxic effects. Next, in vitro MRI detectability of glucose SPIO micelles was evaluated at the loaded SPIO content of 2.

Glucose-installed biodegradable polymeric micelles for cancer-targeted drug delivery system: synthesis, characterization and in vitro evaluation.

Glucose metabolism of cancer can be used as a strategy to target cancer cells which exhibit altered glycolytic rate. The facilitated glucose transporter (Glut) plays an important role in enhancement glycolytic rate resulting in increased glucose uptake into cancer cells. FGD-PET image is an example for using Glut as a targeting to diagnose the high glycolytic rate of tumor.

Solubility enhancement and in vitro evaluation of PEG-b-PLA micelles as nanocarrier of semi-synthetic andrographolide analogue for cholangiocarcinoma chemotherapy.

Background: Semi-synthetic andrographolide analogue (19-triphenylmethyl ether andrographolide, AG 050) is a C-19 substituted andrographolide which is the major constituent from Andrographis Paniculata Nees (Acanthaceae). The analogue has previously been reported to be highly cytotoxic against several cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, its poor water solubility limits clinical applications of this compound.

Comparative studies of poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(D,L-lactide) as core materials of polymeric micelles.

Polymeric micelles have been successfully used to deliver a variety of therapeutic agents. Nonetheless, several limitations and considerations must be clarified and well-studied to achieve the highest therapeutic effect. In this study, a series of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) with varying molecular weight (MW) of hydrophobic core segment were synthesized.

PEG-b-PCL and PEG-b-PLA polymeric micelles as nanocarrieres for lamellarin N delivery.

Lamellarin N (Lam N) is a member of an interesting marine natural product class isolated from mollusks and subsequently found in ascidians and sponges. The limited aqueous solubility of Lam N hinders further studies on its cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. In this study, micelles comprising poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D, L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) were developed to circumvent Lam N limited aqueous solubility.

Pughiinin A, a sesquiterpene from the fungus Kionochaeta pughii BCC 3878.

A novel secondary metabolite, pughiinin A, together with pycnidione, mevalonolactone, and 7-hydroxy-2-methylchromanone, was isolated from the seed fungus Kionochaeta pughii BCC 3878. The chemical structure was established by spectroscopic methods and by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Pughiinin A and pycnidione exhibited in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (K1 strain).