This study was supported by the grant from AACP New Pharmacy Faculty Research Award Program, Medical Research Foundation of Oregon New Investigator Grant, Oregon State University-Startup fund, and Pacific University, School of Pharmacy Start-up fund.

1. Preparation of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Micelles by Solvent Casting Method
<ol>
	<li>Weigh out DTX 1 mg or EVR 1 mg or both drugs at 1 mg each for the dual drug micelles (DDM).</li>
	<li>Weigh out 15 mg of PEG2000-b-PLA1800 or PEG4000-b-PLA2200 for either individual or DDM.</li>
	<li>Dissolve the drug/ drugs and the polymer in 0.5 ml of acetonitrile and place in a 5 ml round bottom flask.</li>
	<li>Form a thin drug distributed polymer film by evaporating the drug(s)-polymer acetonitrile solution under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator. Set the rotary evaporator to 100 rpm, the water bath temperature of 40 oC and a vacuum pressure of 260 mbar for 5 min followed by a reduction to 100 mbar for 3 more min.</li>
	<li>Rehydrate the drug-polymer film with 0.5 ml of deionized water at 50 oC and gently shake the flask to form the micelles.</li>
	<li>Filter the resulting micellar solution through a 0.2 &#181;m nylon filter to remove any un-dissolved drug or contaminants into a 1.5 ml centrifuge tube.</li>
</ol>
2. Assessment of Drug Loading and Stability in Micelles Using Reverse-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC)
<ol>
	<li>Perform RP-HPLC analysis with a C8 column equilibriated at 40 &#176;C in an isocratic mode with a mobile phase of acetonitrile/water (62/38) containing 0.1% phosphoric acid and 1% methanol at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and an injection volume of 10 &#181;l.</li>
	<li>Dilute freshly prepared micelles (section 1) 1:100 in mobile phase prior to analyzing by RP-HPLC to determine initial drug loading. Store undiluted individual micelles and DDM at room temperature (25 oC) for 48 hr and prepare fresh 1:100 diluted samples in mobile phase to re-assess by RP-HPLC and determine drug(s) stability in micelles over 24 hr.</li>
	<li>Monitor DTX and EVR peaks at 227 and 279 nm respectively with retention times of 1.7 and 5.7 min respectively. Perform all measurements in triplicate. Present data as Mean &#177; SD drug loading.</li>
</ol>
3. Assessment of micelle Particle Size by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
<ol>
	<li>Dilute freshly prepared micelles (as described in section 1) in deionized water at a ratio of 1:20 to yield a final polymer concentration of 1.5 mg/ml.</li>
	<li>Measure the intensity of He-Ne laser (633 nm) at 173&#176; to determine scattering. Perform all measurements at 25 &#176;C following pre-equilibration for 2 min.</li>
	<li>Perform all measurements in triplicate. Present data as the Mean Z-average size &#177; SD along with the polydispersity index (PDI) of the distribution.</li>
</ol>
4. Assessment of In Vitro Drug Release from Individual Micelles and DDM
<ol>
	<li>Prepare individual micelles and DDM as described in section 1. Load 2.5 ml of the micelles into a 3 ml dialysis cassette with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 7,000 g/mol. 
	NOTE: This MWCO was chosen to enable the free drug(s) along with the unassociated polymer molecules to diffuse freely out of the cassette and thereby ensure sink conditions.</li>
	<li>Place the cassettes in 2.5 L of 10 mM pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (prepared by diluting stock 200 mM solution) and change the buffer every 3 hr to ensure sink conditions. Maintain the temperature of the buffer at 37 oC throughout the duration of the experiment.</li>
	<li>At 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 hr, withdraw 150 &#181;l of the solution in the cassettes and replace with 150 &#181;l of fresh buffer.</li>
	<li>Analyze the samples using RP-HPLC as established in section 2 to determine the drug concentration. Curve-fit the drug(s) release data based on a simple diffusion model with a one phase exponential association using stastitical software.</li>
	<li>Calculate the time needed to reach 50% of drug release (t1/2) of each drug in individual micelles or DDM based on the curve fitting. Perform all measurements in quadruplet.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Yokoyama, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polymeric+micelles+as+a+new+drug+carrier+system+and+their+required+considerations+for+clinical+trials.">Polymeric micelles as a new drug carrier system and their required considerations for clinical trials.</a> Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 7, 145-158 (2010).</li><li>Shin, H. C., Alani, A. W., Rao, D. A., Rockich, N. C., Kwon, G. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-drug+loaded+polymeric+micelles+for+simultaneous+delivery+of+poorly+soluble+anticancer+drugs.">Multi-drug loaded polymeric micelles for simultaneous delivery of poorly soluble anticancer drugs.</a> J Control Release. 140, 294-300 (2009).</li><li>Adams, M. L., Lavasanifar, A., Kwon, G. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amphiphilic+block+copolymers+for+drug+delivery.">Amphiphilic block copolymers for drug delivery.</a> J Pharm Sci. 92, 1343-1355 (2003).</li><li>Oerlemans, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polymeric+micelles+in+anticancer+therapy:+targeting,+imaging+and+triggered+release.">Polymeric micelles in anticancer therapy: targeting, imaging and triggered release.</a> Pharm Res. 27, 2569-2589 (2010).</li><li>Shin, H. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+3-in-1+polymeric+micelle+nanocontainer+for+poorly+water-soluble+drugs.">A 3-in-1 polymeric micelle nanocontainer for poorly water-soluble drugs.</a> Mol Pharm. 8, 1257-1265 (2011).</li><li>Hasenstein, J. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antitumor+activity+of+Triolimus:+a+novel+multidrug-loaded+micelle+containing+Paclitaxel+Rapamycin,+and+17-AAG.">Antitumor activity of Triolimus: a novel multidrug-loaded micelle containing Paclitaxel Rapamycin, and 17-AAG.</a> Mol Cancer Ther. 11, 2233-2242 (2012).</li><li>Mazzaferro, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bivalent+sequential+binding+of+docetaxel+to+methyl-beta-cyclodextrin.">Bivalent sequential binding of docetaxel to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin.</a> Int J Pharm. 416, 171-180 (2011).</li><li>Iwase, Y., Maitani, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+and+in+vivo+evaluation+of+liposomal+everolimus+for+lung+carcinoma+and+thyroid+carcinoma.">Preparation and in vivo evaluation of liposomal everolimus for lung carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma.</a> Biol Pharm Bull. 35, 975-979 (2012).</li><li>Mishra, G. P., Doddapaneni, B. S., Nguyen, D., Alani, A. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antiangiogenic+effect+of+docetaxel+and+everolimus+as+individual+and+dual-drug-loaded+micellar+nanocarriers.">Antiangiogenic effect of docetaxel and everolimus as individual and dual-drug-loaded micellar nanocarriers.</a> Pharm Res. 31, 660-669 (2014).</li><li>Xu, W., Ling, P., Zhang, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polymeric+micelles,+a+promising+drug+delivery+system+to+enhance+bioavailability+of+poorly+water-soluble+drugs.">Polymeric micelles, a promising drug delivery system to enhance bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.</a> J Drug Deliv. 2013, 340315 (2013).</li><li>Lavasanifar, A., Samuel, J., Kwon, G. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Poly(ethylene+oxide)-block-poly(L-amino+acid)+micelles+for+drug+delivery.">Poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(L-amino acid) micelles for drug delivery.</a> Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 54, 169-190 (2002).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The use of polymeric micelles for drug delivery continues to expand due to their versatility and ability to deliver hydrophobic drugs for various disease states. Therefore, the techniques needed to prepare and characterize these formulations prior to use in cell culture or animals is a critical first step to determine the best pairing between the drug and the polymer. PEG-b-PLA are excellent amphiphilic block copolymers for drug delivery purposes. However, the block length of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic s...

Amphiphilic block copolymers with repeating structure composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains can spontaneously self-assemble to form three dimensional macromolecular assemblies known as polymeric micelles. These structures have an inner hydrophobic core surrounded by a hydrophilic shell. The hydrophobic core has the ability to incorporate hydrophobic drugs either by physical entrapment through hydrophobic interactions or by chemical conjugation on to the polymer backbone.1 Many advantages exist to using these block copolymers to form micelles for drug delivery. These include incorporation of poorly soluble drugs, improving pharmacokinetics of the incorporated drugs, and the biocompatibility and/or biodegradability of the polymers makes them a safe alternate to conventional solubilizers.2 Another advantage of using polymeric micelles is their colloidal particle size, between 15&#8211;150 nm3, making them attractive for parenteral delivery. Therefore, over the last 20 years polymeric micelles have emerged as viable drug delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs especially for cancer therapy.3,4
Currently there are five polymeric micellar formulations for cancer therapy undergoing clinical trials.4 Four of the micelles in the clinical trials are PEG-based diblock copolymers while the last is a triblock copolymer containing polyethyleneoxide. The size of these micelles varied from 20 nm to 85 nm. The advantage of using PEG based polymers is their biocompatibility and depending on the second block can also be biodegradable. Recently new drug delivery systems based on polyethyleneglycol-block-polylactic acid (PEG-b-PLA) polymeric micelles have been developed for the concurrent delivery of multiple anticancer drugs. The PEG-b-PLA micelles are both biocompatible and biodegradable. These multi-drug loaded micelles have shown a synergistic inhibition of different cancers models in vitro and in vivo2,5,6 and fit into the current paradigm of utilizing multiple drugs in chemotherapy to prevent resistance and lowering toxicity. Therefore, there is a great deal of interest in preparing and characterizing these micellar drug delivery systems for use in cancer and other disease states.
In the work below we have outlined a step-by-step process by which such micelles can be prepared and characterized before evaluating them in disease states of interest. For the purpose of this work two poorly-soluble anti-cancer agents, docetaxel (DTX) and everolimus (EVR) have been chosen. Both DTX and EVR are poorly water-soluble compounds with intrinsic water solubilities at 1.9 and 9.6 &#181;g/ml respectively.7,8 Two PEG-b-PLA polymers with different molecular weights were used in this protocol as the building blocks for the formulated polymeric micelles, these polymers are PEG2000-b-PLA1800 (3,800 Da) and PEG4000-b-PLA2200 (6,200 Da). PEG-b-PLA micelles can therefore provide a unique platform as a nanocarrier for DTX and EVR individually and in combination. The required Reagents/Materials and Equipment needed to prepare and characterize these micelles are listed in Table 1.

<table><tbody><tr><td>PEG2000-b-PLA1800</td><td>Advanced Polymer Materials, Inc</td><td>6-01- PLA/2000</td><td>PLA MW can be specified on ordering</td></tr><tr><td>PEG4000-b-PLA2200</td><td>Advanced Polymer Materials, Inc</td><td>6-01- PLA/4000</td><td>PLA MW can be specified on ordering</td></tr><tr><td>Docetaxel</td><td>LC Laboratories</td><td>D-1000</td><td>100 mg</td></tr><tr><td>Everolimus</td><td>LC Laboratories</td><td>E-4040</td><td>100 mg</td></tr><tr><td>Acetonitrile</td><td>EMD/VWR</td><td>EM-AX0145-1</td><td>HPLC grade; 4 L</td></tr><tr><td>Round bottom flask&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Glassco/VWR</td><td>89426-496</td><td>5 ml</td></tr><tr><td>RV 10 Control Rotary Evaporators</td><td>IKA Works</td><td>8025001</td><td>Rotoevaporator</td></tr><tr><td>Shimadzhu HPLC with DAD detector</td><td>Shimadzhu</td><td></td><td>RP-HPLC</td></tr><tr><td>Slide-a-lyzer dialysis casette MWCO 7000</td><td>Thermo Scientific, Inc</td><td>66370</td><td>3 ml</td></tr><tr><td>Phosphate buffer pH 7.4, 200 mM</td><td>VWR</td><td>100190-870</td><td>500 ml</td></tr><tr><td>Malvern NanoZS</td><td>Malvern Instruments, UK</td><td></td><td>DLS</td></tr><tr><td>Nylon filter</td><td>Acrodisc/VWR</td><td>28143-242</td><td>13 mm; 0.2&amp;micro;M</td></tr><tr><td>Phosphoric acid, NF</td><td>Spectrum Chemical/VWR</td><td>700000-626</td><td>100 ml</td></tr><tr><td>GraphPad Prism</td><td>&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.graphpad.com/&quot;&gt;www.graphpad.com&lt;/a&gt;</td><td></td><td>Analysis software</td></tr><tr><td>Zorbax SB-C8 Rapid Resolution cartridge&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Agilent Technologies</td><td>866953-906</td><td>4.6 &amp;times;75 mm, 3.5 &amp;#956;m</td></tr></tbody></table>

preparation and characterization of individual and multi-drug loaded physically entrapped polymeric micelles

Amphiphilic block copolymers like polyethyleneglycol-block-polylactic acid (PEG-b-PLA) can self-assemble into micelles above their critical micellar concentration forming hydrophobic cores surrounded by hydrophilic shells in aqueous environments. The core of these micelles can be utilized to load hydrophobic, poorly water soluble drugs like docetaxel (DTX) and everolimus (EVR). Systematic characterization of the micelle structure and drug loading capabilities are important before in vitro and in vivo studies can be conducted. The goal of the protocol described herein is to provide the necessary characterization steps to achieve standardized micellar products. DTX and EVR have intrinsic solubilities of 1.9 and 9.6 &#181;g/ml respectively Preparation of these micelles can be achieved through solvent casting which increases the aqueous solubility of DTX and EVR to 1.86 and 1.85 mg/ml, respectively. Drug stability in micelles evaluated at room temperature over 48 hr indicates that 97% or more of the drugs are retained in solution. Micelle size was assessed using dynamic light scattering and indicated that the size of these micelles was below 50 nm and depended on the molecular weight of the polymer. Drug release from the micelles was assessed using dialysis under sink conditions at pH 7.4 at 37 oC over 48 hr. Curve fitting results indicate that drug release is driven by a first order process indicating that it is diffusion driven.

Individual DTX or EVR micelles and DTX and EVR DDM in PEG-b-PLA micelles are successfully formulated in either PEG4000-b-PLA2200 or PEG2000-b-PLA1800 (Figure 1).
DTX, EVR, and the DDM showed similar stability in PEG4000-b-PLA2200 or PEG2000-b-PLA1800 over 48 hr (Figure 2). Initial drug loading of EVR in PEG4000-b</...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles at JoVE.com

Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles

The goal of this protocol is to describe the preparation and characterization of physically entrapped, poorly water soluble drugs in micellar drug delivery systems composed of amphiphilic block copolymers.

Amphiphilic block copolymers like polyethyleneglycol-block-polylactic acid (PEG-b-PLA) can self-assemble into micelles above their critical micellar ...

preparation-characterization-individual-multi-drug-loaded-physically

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

11.2K Views.  Pacific University. The goal of this protocol is to describe the preparation and characterization of physically entrapped, poorly water soluble drugs in micellar drug delivery systems composed of amphiphilic block copolymers.

Video: Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles

A Facile and Efficient Approach for the Production of Reversible Disulfide Cross-linked Micelles

Nanomedicine is an emerging form of therapy that harnesses the unique properties of particles that are nanometers in scale for biomedical application. Improving drug delivery to maximize therapeutic outcomes and to reduce drug-associated side effects are some of the cornerstones of present-day nanomedicine. Nanoparticles in particular have found a wide application in cancer treatment. Nanoparticles that offer a high degree of flexibility in design, application, and production based on the tumor microenvironment are projected to be more effective with rapid translation into clinical practice. The polymeric micellar nano-carrier is a popular choice for drug delivery applications.
In this article, we describe a simple and effective protocol for synthesizing drug-loaded, disulfide cross-linked micelles based on the self-assembly of a well-defined amphiphilic linear-dendritic copolymer (telodendrimer, TD). TD is composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the hydrophilic segment and a thiolated cholic acid cluster as the core-forming hydrophobic moiety attached stepwise to an amine-terminated PEG using solution-based peptide chemistry. Chemotherapy drugs, such as paclitaxel (PTX), can be loaded using a standard solvent evaporation method. The O2-mediated oxidation was previously utilized to form intra-micellar disulfide cross-links from free thiol groups on the TDs. However, the reaction was slow and not feasible for large-scale production. Recently, an H2O2-mediated oxidation method was explored as a more feasible and efficient approach, and it was 96 times faster than the previously reported method. Using this approach, 50 g of PTX-loaded, disulfide cross-linked nanoparticles have been successfully produced with narrow particle size distribution and high drug loading efficiency. The stability of the resulting micelle solution is analyzed using disrupting conditions such as co-incubation with a detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate, with or without a reducing agent. The drug-loaded, disulfide cross-linked micelles demonstrated less hemolytic activity when compared to their non-cross-linked counterparts.

To deliver cancer drugs to tumor sites with high specificity and reduced side effects, new methods based on nanoparticles are required. Here, we describe disulfide cross-linked micelles that can be easily prepared by hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidation and are able to dissociate efficiently under a reducing tumor environment to release payloads.

Nanomedicine is an emerging form of therapy that harnesses the unique properties of particles that are nanometers in scale for biomedical application. ...

Biochemistry

Split-and-pool Synthesis and Characterization of Peptide Tertiary Amide Library

Peptidomimetics are great sources of protein ligands. The oligomeric nature of these compounds enables us to access large synthetic libraries on solid phase by using combinatorial chemistry. One of the most well studied classes of peptidomimetics is peptoids. Peptoids are easy to synthesize and have been shown to be proteolysis-resistant and cell-permeable. Over the past decade, many useful protein ligands have been identified through screening of peptoid libraries. However, most of the ligands identified from peptoid libraries do not display high affinity, with rare exceptions. This may be due, in part, to the lack of chiral centers and conformational constraints in peptoid molecules. Recently, we described a new synthetic route to access peptide tertiary amides (PTAs). PTAs are a superfamily of peptidomimetics that include but are not limited to peptides, peptoids and N-methylated peptides. With side chains on both &#945;-carbon and main chain nitrogen atoms, the conformation of these molecules are greatly constrained by sterical hindrance and allylic 1,3 strain. (Figure 1) Our study suggests that these PTA molecules are highly structured in solution and can be used to identify protein ligands. We believe that these molecules can be a future source of high-affinity protein ligands. Here we describe the synthetic method combining the power of both split-and-pool and sub-monomer strategies to synthesize a sample one-bead one-compound (OBOC) library of PTAs.

Peptide tertiary amides (PTAs) are a superfamily of peptidomimetics that include but are not limited to peptides, peptoids and N-methylated peptides. Here we describe a synthetic method which combines&#160;both split-and-pool and sub-monomer strategies to synthesize a one-bead one-compound library of PTAs.

Peptidomimetics are great sources of protein ligands. The oligomeric nature of these compounds enables us to access large synthetic libraries on solid ...

Formulation of Diblock Polymeric Nanoparticles through Nanoprecipitation Technique

Nanotechnology is a relatively new branch of science that involves harnessing the unique properties of particles that are nanometers in scale (nanoparticles). Nanoparticles can be engineered in a precise fashion where their size, composition and surface chemistry can be carefully controlled. This enables unprecedented freedom to modify some of the fundamental properties of their cargo, such as solubility, diffusivity, biodistribution, release characteristics and immunogenicity. Since their inception, nanoparticles have been utilized in many areas of science and medicine, including drug delivery, imaging, and cell biology1-4. However, it has not been fully utilized outside of "nanotechnology laboratories" due to perceived technical barrier. In this article, we describe a simple method to synthesize a polymer based nanoparticle platform that has a wide range of potential applications. 
The first step is to synthesize a diblock co-polymer that has both a hydrophobic domain and hydrophilic domain. Using PLGA and PEG as model polymers, we described a conjugation reaction using EDC/NHS chemistry5 (Fig 1). We also discuss the polymer purification process. The synthesized diblock co-polymer can self-assemble into nanoparticles in the nanoprecipitation process through hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions.
The described polymer nanoparticle is very versatile. The hydrophobic core of the nanoparticle can be utilized to carry poorly soluble drugs for drug delivery experiments6. Furthermore, the nanoparticles can overcome the problem of toxic solvents for poorly soluble molecular biology reagents, such as wortmannin, which requires a solvent like DMSO. However, DMSO can be toxic to cells and interfere with the experiment. These poorly soluble drugs and reagents can be effectively delivered using polymer nanoparticles with minimal toxicity. Polymer nanoparticles can also be loaded with fluorescent dye and utilized for intracellular trafficking studies. Lastly, these polymer nanoparticles can be conjugated to targeting ligands through surface PEG. Such targeted nanoparticles can be utilized to label specific epitopes on or in cells7-10.

This article describes a nanoprecipitation method to synthesize polymer-based nanoparticles using diblock co-polymers. We will discuss the synthesis of diblock co-polymers, the nanoprecipitation technique, and potential applications.

Nanotechnology is a relatively new branch of science that involves harnessing the unique properties of particles that are nanometers in scale ...

Bioengineering

Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Metal-organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks have attracted extraordinary amounts of research attention, as they are attractive candidates for numerous industrial and technological applications. Their signature property is their ultrahigh porosity, which however imparts a series of challenges when it comes to both constructing them and working with them. Securing desired MOF chemical and physical functionality by linker/node assembly into a highly porous framework of choice can pose difficulties, as less porous and more thermodynamically stable congeners (e.g., other crystalline polymorphs, catenated analogues) are often preferentially obtained by conventional synthesis methods. Once the desired product is obtained, its characterization often requires specialized techniques that address complications potentially arising from, for example, guest-molecule loss or preferential orientation of microcrystallites. Finally, accessing the large voids inside the MOFs for use in applications that involve gases can be problematic, as frameworks may be subject to collapse during removal of solvent molecules (remnants of solvothermal synthesis). In this paper, we describe synthesis and characterization methods routinely utilized in our lab either to solve or circumvent these issues. The methods include solvent-assisted linker exchange, powder X-ray diffraction in capillaries, and materials activation (cavity evacuation) by supercritical CO2 drying. Finally, we provide a protocol for determining a suitable pressure region for applying the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis to nitrogen isotherms, so as to estimate surface area of MOFs with good accuracy.

Synthesis, activation, and characterization of intentionally designed metal-organic framework materials is challenging, especially when building blocks are incompatible or unwanted polymorphs are thermodynamically favored over desired forms. We describe how applications of solvent-assisted linker exchange, powder X-ray diffraction in capillaries and activation via supercritical CO2 drying, can address some of these challenges.

Metal-organic frameworks have attracted extraordinary amounts of research attention, as they are attractive candidates for numerous industrial and ...

Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes

We present a facile method to prepare nanostructured lipid particles stabilized by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Single-walled (pristine) and multi-walled (functionalized) CNTs are used as stabilizers to produce Pickering type oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Lipids namely, Dimodan U and Phytantriol are used as emulsifiers, which in excess water self-assemble into the bicontinuous cubic Pn3m phase. This highly viscous phase is fragmented into smaller particles using a probe ultrasonicator in presence of conventional surfactant stabilizers or CNTs as done here. Initially, the CNTs (powder form) are dispersed in water followed by further ultrasonication with the molten lipid to form the final emulsion. During this process the CNTs get coated with lipid molecules, which in turn are presumed to surround the lipid droplets to form a particulate emulsion that is stable for months. The average size of CNT-stabilized nanostructured lipid particles is in the submicron range, which compares well with the particles stabilized using conventional surfactants. Small angle X-ray scattering data confirms the retention of the original Pn3m cubic phase in the CNT-stabilized lipid dispersions as compared to the pure lipid phase (bulk state). Blue shift and lowering of the intensities in characteristic G and G&#39; bands of CNTs observed in Raman spectroscopy characterize the interaction between CNT surface and lipid molecules. These results suggest that the interactions between the CNTs and lipids are responsible for their mutual stabilization in aqueous solutions. As the concentrations of CNTs employed for stabilization are very low and lipid molecules are able to functionalize the CNTs, the toxicity of CNTs is expected to be insignificant while their biocompatibility is greatly enhanced. Hence the present approach finds a great potential in various biomedical applications, for instance, for developing hybrid nanocarrier systems for the delivery of multiple functional molecules as in combination therapy or polytherapy.

We report on a smart application of carbon nanotubes for kinetic stabilization of lipid particles that contain self-assembled nanostructures in their cores. The preparation of lipid particles requires rather low concentrations of carbon nanotubes permitting their use in biomedical applications such as drug delivery.

We present a facile method to prepare nanostructured lipid particles stabilized by carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Single-walled (pristine) and multi-walled ...

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by &#960;-&#960; Stacking Interactions

In this study, an amphiphilic copolymer that includes a core-forming block with phenyl groups was synthesized by living anionic polymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether (PheGE) on methoxy-polyethylene glycol (mPEG-b-PPheGE). Characterization of the copolymer revealed a narrow molecular distribution (PDI &#60; 1.03) and confirmed the degree of polymerization of mPEG122-b-(PheGE)15. The critical micelle concentration of the copolymer was evaluated using an established fluorescence method with the aggregation behavior evaluated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electronic microscopy. The potential of the copolymer for use in drug delivery applications was evaluated in a preliminary manner including in vitro biocompatibility, loading and release of the hydrophobic anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). A stable micelle formulation of DOX was prepared with drug loading levels up to 14% (wt%), drug loading efficiencies &#62; 60% (w/w) and sustained release of drug over 4 days under physiologically relevant conditions (acidic and neutral pH, presence of albumin). The high drug loading level and sustained release is attributed to stabilizing &#960;-&#960; interactions between DOX and the core-forming block of the micelles.

The key steps of living anionic polymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether (PheGE) on methoxy-polyethylene glycol (mPEG-b-PPheGE) are described. The resulting block copolymer micelles (BCMs) were loaded with doxorubicin 14% (wt%) and sustained release of drug over 4 days under physiologically relevant conditions was obtained.

In this study, an amphiphilic copolymer that includes a core-forming block with phenyl groups was synthesized by living anionic polymerization of phenyl ...

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs), core-shell nanoparticles formed by self-assembly of charged polymers in aqueous solution, provide a powerful platform for exploring the physics of polyelectrolyte interactions and also offer a promising solution to the pressing problem of delivering therapeutic oligonucleotides in vivo. Developing predictive structure-property relationships for PCMs has proven difficult, in part due to the presence of strong kinetic traps during nanoparticle self-assembly. This article discusses criteria for choosing polymers for PCM construction and provides protocols based on salt annealing that enable assembly of repeatable, low-polydispersity nanoparticles. We also discuss PCM characterization using light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy.

We provide protocols and representative data for designing, assembling, and characterizing polyelectrolyte complex micelles, core-shell nanoparticles formed by polyelectrolytes and hydrophilic charged-uncharged block copolymers.

Polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs), core-shell nanoparticles formed by self-assembly of charged polymers in aqueous solution, provide a powerful ...

Preparation and Characterization of Lipophilic Doxorubicin Pro-drug Micelles

Micelles have been successfully used for the delivery of anticancer drugs. Amphiphilic polymers form core-shell structured micelles in an aqueous environment through self-assembly. The hydrophobic core of micelles functions as a drug reservoir and encapsulates hydrophobic drugs. The hydrophilic shell prevents the aggregation of micelles and also prolongs their systemic circulation in vivo. In this protocol, we describe a method to synthesize a doxorubicin lipophilic pro-drug, doxorubicin-palmitic acid (DOX-PA), which will enhance drug loading into micelles. A pH-sensitive hydrazone linker was used to conjugate doxorubicin with the lipid, which facilitates the release of free doxorubicin inside cancer cells. Synthesized DOX-PA was purified with a silica gel column using dichloromethane/methanol as the eluent. Purified DOX-PA was analyzed with thin layer chromatography (TLC) and 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR). A film dispersion method was used to prepare DOX-PA loaded DSPE-PEG micelles. In addition, several methods for characterizing micelle formulations are described, including determination of DOX-PA concentration and encapsulation efficiency, measurement of particle size and distribution, and assessment of in vitro anticancer activities. This protocol provides useful information regarding the preparation and characterization of drug-loaded micelles and thus will facilitate the research and development of novel micelle-based cancer nanomedicines.

A protocol for the preparation and characterization of lipophilic doxorubicin pro-drug loaded 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG) micelles is described.

Micelles have been successfully used for the delivery of anticancer drugs. Amphiphilic polymers form core-shell structured micelles in an aqueous ...

Phase Change Dimethyldioctadecylammonium-Shelled Microdroplets as a Promising Drug Delivery System: Results on 3D Spheroids of Mammalian Tumor Cells

Significant improvement of phase-change perfluorocarbon microdroplets (MDs) in the vast theranostic scenario passes through the optimization of the MDs composition with respect to synthesis efficiency, stability, and drug delivery capability. To this aim, decafluoropentane (DFP) MDs stabilized by a shell of dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB) cationic surfactant were designed. A high concentration of DDAB-MDs was readily obtained within a few seconds by pulsed high-power insonation, resulting in low polydisperse 1 &#181;m size droplets. Highly positive &#950;-potential, together with a long, saturated hydrocarbon chains of the DDAB shell, are key factors to stabilize the droplet and the drug cargo therein. The high affinity of the DDAB shell with cell plasma membrane allows for localized chemotherapeutics delivery by increasing the drug concentration at the tumor cell interface and boosting the uptake. This would turn DDAB-MDs into a relevant drug delivery tool exhibiting high antitumor activity at very low drug doses.
In this work, the efficacy of such an approach is shown to dramatically improve the effect of doxorubicin against 3D spheroids of mammalian tumor cells, MDA-MB-231. The use of&#160;three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures developed in the form of multicellular tumor spheroids (i.e., densely packed cells in a spherical shape) has numerous advantages compared to 2D cell cultures: in addition to have the potential to bridge the gap between conventional in vitro studies and animal testing, it will improve the ability to perform more predictive in vitro screening assays for preclinical drug development or evaluate the potential of off-label drugs and new co-targeting strategies.

Decafluoropentane microdroplets developed with a shell of dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide exhibited an exceptional colloidal stability and an actractive biointerface. DDAB-MDs proved to be efficient drug reservoirs characterized by a high affinity to plasma membranes together with enhanced uptake and antitumor activity of Doxorubicin against human triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) 3D model.

Significant improvement of phase-change perfluorocarbon microdroplets (MDs) in the vast theranostic scenario passes through the optimization of the MDs ...

Preparation and Characterization of Nanoliposomes for the Entrapment of Bioactive Hydrophilic Globular Proteins

Liposome nanocapsules have been applied for many purposes in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Attributes of liposomes include their biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-immunogenicity, non-toxicity, and ability to entrap both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. The classical hydration of thin lipid films in an organic solvent is applied herein as a technique to encapsulate tarin, a plant lectin, in nanoliposomes. Nanoliposome size, stability, entrapment efficiency, and morphological characterization are described in detail. The nanoliposomes are prepared using 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (ammonium salt; DSPE-MPEG 2000), and cholesterylhemisuccinate (CHEMS) as the main constituents. Lipids are first dissolved in chloroform to obtain a thin lipid film that is subsequently rehydrated in ammonium sulfate solution containing the protein to be entrapped and incubated overnight. Then, sonication and extrusion techniques are applied to generate nanosized unilamellar vesicles. The size and polydispersity index of the nanovesicles are determined by dynamic light scattering, while nanovesicle morphology is assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Entrapment efficiency is determined by the ratio of the amount of unencapsulated protein to original amount of initially loaded protein. Homogeneous liposomes are obtained with an average size of 155 nm and polydispersity index value of 0.168. A high entrapment efficiency of 83% is achieved.

This study describes classical hydration using the thin lipid film method for nanoliposome preparation followed by nanoparticle characterization. A 47 kDa-hydrophilic and globular protein, tarin, is successfully encapsulated as a strategy to improve stability, avoid fast clearance, and promote controlled release. The method can be adapted to hydrophobic molecules encapsulation.

Liposome nanocapsules have been applied for many purposes in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Attributes of liposomes include their ...

Preparation and Characterization of Individual and Multi-drug Loaded Physically Entrapped Polymeric Micelles

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