Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering - Research Publications

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    Immobilization and Intracellular Delivery of an Anticancer Drug Using Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine Capsules
    Cui, J ; Yan, Y ; Such, GK ; Liang, K ; Ochs, CJ ; Postma, A ; Caruso, F (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2012-08)
    We report a facile approach to immobilize pH-cleavable polymer-drug conjugates in mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) capsules for intracellular drug delivery. Our design takes advantage of the facile PDA coating to form capsules, the chemical reactivity of PDA films, and the acid-labile groups in polymer side chains for sustained pH-induced drug release. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) was conjugated to thiolated poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA(SH)) with a pH-cleavable hydrazone bond, and then immobilized in PDA capsules via robust thiol-catechol reactions between the polymer-drug conjugate and capsule walls. The loaded Dox showed limited release at physiological pH but significant release (over 85%) at endosomal/lysosomal pH. Cell viability assays showed that Dox-loaded PDA capsules enhanced the efficacy of eradicating HeLa cancer cells compared with free drug under the same assay conditions. The reported method provides a new platform for the application of stimuli-responsive PDA capsules as drug delivery systems.
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    Biodegradable Click Capsules with Engineered Drug-Loaded Multilayers
    Ochs, CJ ; Such, GK ; Yan, Y ; van Koeverden, MP ; Caruso, F (AMER CHEMICAL SOC, 2010-03)
    We report the modular assembly of a polymer-drug conjugate into covalently stabilized, responsive, biodegradable, and drug-loaded capsules with control over drug dose and position in the multilayer film. The cancer therapeutic, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), was conjugated to alkyne-functionalized poly(l-glutamic acid) (PGA(Alk)) via amide bond formation. PGA(Alk) and PGA(Alk+DOX) were assembled via hydrogen bonding with poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVPON) on planar and colloidal silica templates. The films were subsequently covalently stabilized using diazide cross-linkers, and PVPON was released from the multilayers by altering the solution pH to disrupt hydrogen bonding. After removal of the sacrificial template, single-component PGA(Alk) capsules were obtained and analyzed by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The PGA(Alk) capsules were stable in the pH range between 2 and 11 and exhibited reversible swelling/shrinking behavior. PGA(Alk+DOX) was assembled to form drug-loaded polymer capsules with control over drug dose and position in the multilayer system (e.g., DOX in every layer or exclusively in layer 3). The drug-loaded capsules could be degraded enzymatically, resulting in the sustained release of active DOX over approximately 2 h. Cellular uptake studies demonstrate that the viability of cells incubated with DOX-loaded PGA(Alk) capsules significantly decreased. The general applicability of this modular approach, in terms of incorporation of polymer-drug conjugates in other click multilayer systems, was also demonstrated. Biodegradable click capsules with drug-loaded multilayers are promising candidates as carrier systems for biomedical applications.
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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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    Encapsulation of Water-Insoluble Drugs in Polymer Capsules Prepared Using Mesoporous Silica Templates for Intracellular Drug Delivery
    Wang, Y ; Yan, Y ; Cui, J ; Hosta-Rigau, L ; Heath, JK ; Nice, EC ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2010-10-08)
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    Capsosomes with Multilayered Subcompartments: Assembly and Loading with Hydrophobic Cargo
    Hosta-Rigau, L ; Staedler, B ; Yan, Y ; Nice, EC ; Heath, JK ; Albericio, F ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2010-01-08)
    Abstract Therapeutic artificial cells or organelles are nanoengineered vehicles that are expected to substitute for missing or lost cellular function. The creation of capsosomes, polymer carrier capsules containing liposomal subcompartments, is a promising approach towards constructing such therapeutic devices using the layer‐by‐layer assembly method. Herein, the assembly of intact, nonaggregated capsosomes containing multiple liposome layers is reported. It is also further demonstrated that thiocoraline, a hydrophobic model peptide with antitumor activity, can be efficiently loaded into the membrane of the liposomal subcompartments of the capsosomes. Cell viability assays verify the activity of the trapped antitumor cargo. It is also shown that pristine capsosomes do not display inherent cytotoxic effects. The ability to tune the number of liposome layers and hence the drug loading in capsosomes as well as their noncytotoxicity provide new opportunities for the creation of therapeutic artificial cells and organelles.
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    Bypassing Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Cells with Biodegradable Polymer Capsules
    Yan, Y ; Ochs, CJ ; Such, GK ; Heath, JK ; Nice, EC ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2010-12-14)
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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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    Cellular Association and Cargo Release of Redox-Responsive Polymer Capsules Mediated by Exofacial Thiols
    Yan, Y ; Wang, Y ; Heath, JK ; Nice, EC ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2011-09-08)
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    The Role of Particle Geometry and Mechanics in the Biological Domain
    Best, JP ; Yan, Y ; Caruso, F (WILEY, 2012-01-11)
    Nanostructured particulate materials are expected to revolutionize diagnostics and the delivery of therapeutics for healthcare. To date, chemistry-derived solutions have been the major focus in the design of materials to control interactions with biological systems. Only recently has control over a new set of physical parameters, including size, shape, and rigidity, been explored to optimize the biological response and the in vivo performance of nanoengineered delivery vectors. This Review highlights the methods used to manipulate the physical properties of particles and the relevance of these physical properties to cellular and circulatory interactions. Finally, the importance of future work to synergistically tailor both physical and chemical properties of particulate materials is discussed, with the aim of improving control over particle interactions in the biological domain.
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    Templated Assembly of pH-Labile Polymer-Drug Particles for Intracellular Drug Delivery
    Cui, J ; Yan, Y ; Wang, Y ; Caruso, F (WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2012-11-21)
    Abstract The preparation of pH‐labile polymer‐drug particles via mesoporous silica‐templated assembly for anticancer drug delivery into cancer cells is reported. The polymer‐drug conjugate is synthesized via thiol‐maleimide click chemistry using thiolated poly(methacrylic acid) (PMASH) and a pH‐labile doxorubicin (Dox) derivative. Drug‐loaded polymer particles that are stable under physiological conditions are obtained through infiltration of the conjugates into mesoporous silica particles, followed by cross‐linking the PMASH chains, and subsequent removal of the porous silica templates. The encapsulated Dox is released from the particles through cleavage of the hydrazone bonds between Dox and PMASH at endosomal/lysosomal pH. Cell viability assays show that the assembled PMASH particles have negligible cytotoxicity to LIM1899 human colorectal cancer cells. In comparison, Dox‐loaded PMASH particles cause significant cell death following internalization. The reported particles represent a novel and versatile class of stimuli‐responsive carriers for controlled drug delivery.