Biochemistry and Pharmacology - Research Publications

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    A Protective Vaccine Delivery System for In Vivo T Cell Stimulation Using Nanoengineered Polymer Hydrogel Capsules
    Sexton, A ; Whitney, PG ; Chong, S-F ; Zelikin, AN ; Johnston, APR ; De Rose, R ; Brooks, AG ; Caruso, F ; Kent, SJ (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2009-11)
    Successful delivery of labile vaccine antigens, such as peptides and proteins, to stimulate CD4 and CD8 T cell immunity could improve vaccine strategies against chronic infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Layer-by-layer (LbL)-assembled nanoengineered hydrogel capsules represent a novel and promising technology for the protection and delivery of labile vaccine candidates to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Here we report on the in vitro and in vivo immunostimulatory capabilities of LbL-assembled disulfide cross-linked poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA(SH)) hydrogel capsules as a delivery strategy for protein and peptide vaccines using robust transgenic mice models and ovalbumin (OVA) as a model vaccine. We demonstrate that OVA protein as well as multiple OVA peptides can be successfully encapsulated within nanoengineered PMA(SH) hydrogel capsules. OVA-containing PMA(SH) capsules are internalized by mouse APCs, resulting in presentation of OVA epitopes and subsequent activation of OVA-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells in vitro. OVA-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells are also activated to proliferate in vivo following intravenous vaccination of mice with OVA protein- and OVA peptide-loaded PMA(SH) hydrogel capsules. Furthermore, we show that OVA encapsulated within the PMA(SH) capsules resulted in at least 6-fold greater proliferation of OVA-specific CD8 T cells and 70-fold greater proliferation of OVA-specific CD4 T cells in vivo compared to the equivalent amount of OVA protein administered alone. These results highlight the potential of nanoengineered hydrogel capsules for vaccine delivery.
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    Layer-By-Layer-Assembled Capsules and Films for Therapeutic Delivery
    Becker, AL ; Johnston, APR ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2010-09-06)
    Polymeric materials formed via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly have promise for use as drug delivery vehicles. These multilayered materials, both as capsules and thin fi lms, can encapsulate a high payload of toxic or sensitive drugs, and can be readily engineered and functionalized with specific properties. This review highlights important and recent studies that advance the use of LbL-assembled materials as therapeutic devices. It also seeks to identify areas that require additional investigation for future development of the field. A variety of drug-loading methods and delivery routes are discussed. The biological barriers to successful delivery are identified, and possible solutions to these problems are discussed. Finally, state-of-the-art degradation and cargo release mechanisms are also presented.
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    Influence of size, surface, cell line, and kinetic properties on the specific binding of A33 antigen-targeted multilayered particles and capsules to colorectal cancer cells
    Cortez, C ; Tomaskovic-Crook, E ; Johnston, APR ; Scott, AM ; Nice, EC ; Heath, JK ; Caruso, F (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2007-09)
    There has been increased interest in the use of polymer capsules formed by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique as therapeutic carriers to cancer cells due to their versatility and ease of surface modification. We have investigated the influence of size, surface properties, cell line, and kinetic parameters such as dosage (particle concentration) and incubation time on the specific binding of humanized A33 monoclonal antibody (huA33 mAb)-coated LbL particles and capsules to colorectal cancer cells. HuA33 mAb binds to the A33 antigen present on almost all colorectal cancer cells and has demonstrated great promise in clinical trials as an immunotherapeutic agent for cancer therapy. Flow cytometry experiments showed the cell binding specificity of huA33 mAb-coated particles to be size-dependent, with the optimal size for enhanced selectivity at approximately 500 nm. The specific binding was improved by increasing the dosage of particles incubated with the cells. The level of specific versus nonspecific binding was compared for particles terminated with various polyelectrolytes to examine the surface dependency of antibody attachment and subsequent cell binding ability. The specific binding of huA33 mAb-coated particles is also reported for two colorectal cancer cell lines, with an enhanced binding ratio between 4 and 10 obtained for the huA33 mAb-functionalized particles. This investigation aims to improve the level of specific targeting of LbL particles, which is important in targeted drug and gene delivery applications.
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    P17-03. Nanoengineered layer-by-layer capsules as a novel delivery system for HIV vaccines
    Sexton, A ; Whitney, PG ; De Rose, R ; Zelikin, AN ; Chong, S ; Johnston, AP ; Caruso, F ; Kent, SJ (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2009-10-22)
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    Uptake and Intracellular Fate of Disulfide-Bonded Polymer Hydrogel Capsules for Doxorubicin Delivery to Colorectal Cancer Cells
    Yan, Y ; Johnston, APR ; Dodds, SJ ; Kamphuis, MMJ ; Ferguson, C ; Parton, RG ; Nice, EC ; Heath, JK ; Caruso, F (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2010-05)
    Understanding the interactions between drug carriers and cells is of importance to enhance the delivery of therapeutics. The release of therapeutics into different intracellular environments, such as the lysosomes or the cell cytoplasm, will impact their pharmacological activity. Herein, we investigate the intracellular fate of layer-by-layer (LbL)-assembled, submicrometer-sized polymer hydrogel capsules in a human colon cancer derived cell line, LIM1899. The cellular uptake of the disulfide-stabilized poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA(SH)) capsules by colon cancer cells is a time-dependent process. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the internalized capsules are deformed in membrane-enclosed compartments, which further mature to late endosomes or lysosomes. We further demonstrate the utility of these redox-responsive PMA(SH) capsules for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) to colon cancer cells. The DOX-loaded PMA(SH) capsules demonstrate a 5000-fold enhanced cytotoxicity in cell viability studies compared to free DOX.
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    Targeting of Cancer Cells Using Click-Functionalized Polymer Capsules
    Kamphuis, MMJ ; Johnston, APR ; Such, GK ; Dam, HH ; Evans, RA ; Scott, AM ; Nice, EC ; Heath, JK ; Caruso, F (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2010-11-17)
    Targeted delivery of drugs to specific cells allows a high therapeutic dose to be delivered to the target site with minimal harmful side effects. Combining targeting molecules with nanoengineered drug carriers, such as polymer capsules, micelles and polymersomes, has significant potential to improve the therapeutic delivery and index of a range of drugs. We present a general approach for functionalization of low-fouling, nanoengineered polymer capsules with antibodies using click chemistry. We demonstrate that antibody (Ab)-functionalized capsules specifically bind to colorectal cancer cells even when the target cells constitute less than 0.1% of the total cell population. This precise targeting offers promise for drug delivery applications.
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    Active multilayered capsules for in vivo bone formation
    Facca, S ; Cortez, C ; Mendoza-Palomares, C ; Messadeq, N ; Dierich, A ; Johnston, APR ; Mainard, D ; Voegel, J-C ; Caruso, F ; Benkirane-Jessel, N (NATL ACAD SCIENCES, 2010-02-23)
    Interest in the development of new sources of transplantable materials for the treatment of injury or disease has led to the convergence of tissue engineering with stem cell technology. Bone and joint disorders are expected to benefit from this new technology because of the low self-regenerating capacity of bone matrix secreting cells. Herein, the differentiation of stem cells to bone cells using active multilayered capsules is presented. The capsules are composed of poly-L-glutamic acid and poly-L-lysine with active growth factors embedded into the multilayered film. The bone induction from these active capsules incubated with embryonic stem cells was demonstrated in vitro. Herein, we report the unique demonstration of a multilayered capsule-based delivery system for inducing bone formation in vivo. This strategy is an alternative approach for in vivo bone formation. Strategies using simple chemistry to control complex biological processes would be particularly powerful, as they make production of therapeutic materials simpler and more easily controlled.
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    Toward Therapeutic Delivery with Layer-by-Layer Engineered Particles
    Yan, Y ; Such, GK ; Johnston, APR ; Lomas, H ; Caruso, F (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2011-06)
    Layer-by-layer (LbL)-engineered particles have recently emerged as a promising class of materials for applications in biomedicine, with studies progressing from in vitro to in vivo. The versatility of LbL assembly coupled with particle templating has led to engineered particles with specific properties (e.g., stimuli-responsive, high cargo encapsulation efficiency, targeting), thus offering new opportunities in targeted and triggered therapeutic release. This Perspective highlights an important development by Poon et al. on tumor targeting in vivo using LbL-engineered nanoparticles containing a pH-responsive poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) surface layer. Further, we summarize recent progress in the application of LbL particles in the fields of drug, gene, and vaccine delivery and cancer imaging. Finally, we explore future directions in this field, focusing on the biological processing of LbL-assembled particles.
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    Polymersome-Loaded Capsules for Controlled Release of DNA
    Lomas, H ; Johnston, APR ; Such, GK ; Zhu, Z ; Liang, K ; van Koeverden, MP ; Alongkornchotikul, S ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2011-07-18)
    The formation of a novel drug-delivery carrier for the controlled release of plasmid DNA that comprises layer-by-layer polymer capsules subcompartmentalized with pH-sensitive nanometer-sized polymersomes is reported. The amphiphilic diblock copolymer poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate)-block-poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) forms polymersomes at physiological pH, but transitions to unimeric polymer chains upon acidification to cellular endocytic pH. These polymersomes can thus release an encapsulated payload in response to a change in pH from physiological to endocytic conditions. Multicomponent layer-by-layer capsules are formed by exploiting the ability of tannic acid to act as an efficient hydrogen-bond donor for both the polymersomes and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) at physiological pH. These capsules show release of a plasmid DNA payload encapsulated within the polymersome subcompartments in response to changes in pH between physiological and endocytic conditions.
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    Challenges facing colloidal delivery systems: From synthesis to the clinic
    Johnston, APR ; Such, GK ; Ng, SL ; Caruso, F (ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON, 2011-06)