Polysaccharide-modified nanoparticles with intelligent CD44 receptor targeting ability for gene delivery.

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CD) are endogenous polysaccharides. In recent years, they have aroused the interest of scientists because of specific binding to CD44 receptors, which are overexpressed in several types of tumors.

Methods: In this study, HA- and CD-modified poly(D,L-lactide--glycolide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) copolymers were synthesized and applied to encapsulate 1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP)/DNA (D/P) lipoplex as CD44 receptor targeting gene delivery nanoparticles (NPs).

Hyaluronic acid conjugated micelles possessing CD44 targeting potential for gene delivery.

The high- and low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HHA and LHA) were used to conjugate with PLGA-PEG copolymers which were applied to encapsulate DOTAP/pDNA (D/P) lipoplex as a CD44-targeted micelle delivery system. The size and zeta potential of DNA loaded micelles were measured. The cytotoxicity and cellular transfection of DNA loaded micelles were performed in CD44-positive MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cells and CD44-negative HepG2 cells.

A stromal-free, serum-free system to expand ex vivo hematopoietic stem cells from mobilized peripheral blood of patients with hematologic malignancies and healthy donors.

Background Aims: The number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is critical for transplantation. The ex vivo expansion of mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) HSCs is of clinical value for reconstitution to meet clinical need.

Methods: This study proposed a simple, defined, stromal-free and serum-free culture system (SF-HSC medium) for clinical use, which is composed of Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium, cytokine cocktails and serum substitutes.