Oligo (Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Fumarate)-Based Multicomponent Cryogels for Neural Tissue Replacement.

Synthetic hydrogels provide a promising platform to produce neural tissue analogs with improved control over structural, physical, and chemical properties. In this study, oligo (poly (ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF)-based macroporous cryogels were developed as a potential next-generation alternative to a non-porous OPF hydrogel previously proposed as an advanced biodegradable scaffold for spinal cord repair. A series of OPF cryogel conduits in combination with PEG diacrylate and 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride (MAETAC) cationic monomers were synthesized and characterized.

A new triphenylphosphonium-conjugated amphipathic cationic peptide with improved cell-penetrating and ROS-targeting properties.

We study for the first time whether triphenylphosphonium (TPP) moiety can improve cellular delivery and redox properties of amphipathic cationic peptides based on YRFK/YrFK cell-penetrating and cytoprotective motif. TPP moiety was found to increase reducing activity of both stereoisomeric peptides in solution and on electrode surface in association with TPP-mediated intramolecular interactions. Among TPP-conjugated peptides, newly synthesized TPP3-YrFK featured both increased antioxidant efficacy and proteolytic resistance.

Inhibition of nonspecific polymerase activity using Poly(Aspartic) acid as a model anionic polyelectrolyte.

DNA polymerases with strand-displacement activity allow to amplify nucleic acids under isothermal conditions but often lead to undesirable by-products. Here, we report the increase of specificity of isothermal amplification in the presence of poly (aspartic) acids (pAsp). We hypothesized that side reactions occur due to the binding of the phosphate backbone of synthesized DNA strands with surface amino groups of the polymerase, and weakly acidic polyelectrolytes could shield polymerase molecules from DNA and thereby inhibit nonspecific amplification.

Comparison of systemic and localized carrier-mediated delivery of methylprednisolone succinate for treatment of acute spinal cord injury.

Localized carrier-mediated administration of drugs is a promising approach to treatment of acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI) as it allows enhanced and/or sustained drug delivery to damaged tissues along with minimization of systemic side effects. We studied the effect of locally applied self-assembling micellar formulation of methylprednisolone succinate (MPS) with trifunctional block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (TBC) on functional recovery and tissue drug content after SCI in rats in comparison with local and systemic administration of MPS alone. Variations in the amplitude of motor evoked responses in the hindlimb muscles induced by epidural stimulation during acute phase of SCI and restoration of movements during chronic period after local vs.

Triphenylphosphonium Moiety Modulates Proteolytic Stability and Potentiates Neuroprotective Activity of Antioxidant Tetrapeptides .

Although delocalized lipophilic cations have been identified as effective cellular and mitochondrial carriers for a range of natural and synthetic drug molecules, little is known about their effects on pharmacological properties of peptides. The effect of triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation on bioactivity of antioxidant tetrapeptides based on the model opioid YRFK motif was studied. Two tetrapeptide variants with L-arginine (YRFK) and D-arginine (YrFK) were synthesized and coupled with carboxyethyl-TPP (TPP-3) and carboxypentyl-TPP (TPP-6) units.

Self-assembled nanoformulation of methylprednisolone succinate with carboxylated block copolymer for local glucocorticoid therapy.

A new self-assembled formulation of methylprednisolone succinate (MPS) based on a carboxylated trifunctional block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (TBC-COOH) was developed. TBC-COOH and MPS associated spontaneously at increased concentrations in aqueous solutions to form almost monodisperse mixed micelles (TBC-COOH/MPS) with a hydrodynamic diameter of 19.6 nm, zeta potential of -27.

Non-invasive topical drug delivery to spinal cord with carboxyl-modified trifunctional copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

In this study the effect of oxidative modification on micellar and drug delivery properties of copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) was investigated. Carboxylated trifunctional copolymers were synthesized in the reaction with chromium(VI) oxide. We found that carboxylation significantly improved the uniformity and stability of polymeric micelles by inhibiting the microphase transition.