We show that functionalization of the surface of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with either carboxylic acid (CNC-COH) or amine (CNC-NH) moieties renders the CNCs pH-responsive. At low pH, where the amine groups are protonated, CNC-NH forms aqueous dispersions in water on account of electrostatic repulsions of the ammonium moieties inhibiting aggregation. However, a transition to hydrogels is observed at higher pH where the CNC-NH are neutral and the attractive forces based on hydrogen bonding dominate. The opposite behavior is observed for CNC-COH, which are dispersible at high pH and form gels in an acidic environment. We further show that these pH-responsive CNCs can be incorporated into a poly(vinyl acetate) matrix to yield mechanically adaptive pH-responsive nanocomposite films.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/mz3003006 | DOI Listing |
ACS Nano
January 2025
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a major obstacle for effective delivery of therapeutics to treat central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Although transferrin receptor (TfR)-mediated transcytosis is widely employed for brain drug delivery, the inefficient release of therapeutic payload hinders their efficacy from crossing the BBB. Here, we developed a pH-responsive anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) × anti-TfR bispecific antibody (pH-PEG engager) that can complex with PEGylated nanomedicine at physiological pH to trigger TfR-mediated transcytosis in the brain microvascular endothelial cells, while rapidly dissociating from PEGylated nanomedicine at acidic endosomes for efficient release of PEGylated nanomedicine to cross the BBB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Biomater Sci Eng
January 2025
School of Biological Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.
Melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer originating from melanocytes, presents substantial challenges due to its high metastatic potential and resistance to conventional therapies. Hydrogels, 3D networks of hydrophilic polymers with high water-retention capacities, offer significant promise for controlled drug delivery applications. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of hydrogelators based on the triazine molecular scaffold, which self-assemble into fibrous networks conducive to hydrogel formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Mater
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, POSTECH-CATHOLIC Biomedical Engineering Institute, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea.
Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, has revolutionized oncology. However, it encounters challenges such as inadequate drug accumulation and limited efficacy against "cold" tumors characterized by lack of T cell infiltration and immunosuppressive microenvironments. Here, a controlled antibody production and releasing nanoparticle (CAPRN) is introduced, designed to augment ICB efficacy by facilitating tumor-targeted antibody production and inducing photodynamic cell death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Animal-Derived Food Safety Innovation Team, College of Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections has emerged as a critical global health crisis, undermining the efficacy of conventional antibiotic therapies. This pressing challenge necessitates the development of innovative strategies to combat MDR pathogens. Advances in multifunctional drug delivery systems offer promising solutions to reduce or eradicate MDR bacteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLight Sci Appl
January 2025
Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
The microenvironment of immunosuppression and low immunogenicity of tumor cells has led to unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of the currently developed nanoplatforms. Immunogenic cell death, such as pyroptosis and ferroptosis, can efficiently boost antitumor immunity. However, the exploration of nanoplatform for dual function inducers and combined immune activators that simultaneously trigger pyroptosis and ferroptosis remains limited.
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