PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of bone-tissue scaffolding for tissue regeneration

 

In order to heal defects in bone caused by either disease or trauma, there needs to be a scaffold or a structure for bone cells to attach to and grow. Ideally this structure would mimic the properties of the natural extracellular matrix of bone. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University and Westlake University (China) Used PLGA (Cat# AP230, https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP230#h) from PolySciTech : Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) as part of their development of bone tissue scaffolding. This research holds promise to improve regenerative medicine. Read more: Wang, Yuqi, Su Yan, Xinyu Tan, Ethan Gerhard, Hui Xu, Haiyue Jiang, and Jian Yang. "The genesis of citrated ultrathin hydroxyapatite nanorods." Science Advances 12, no. 3 (2026): eaeb6538. https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.aeb6538

“Ideal orthopedic biomaterials should replicate both the hierarchical structure and exceptional mechanical strength of natural bone. Traditional polymer-hydroxyapatite composites, typically limited up to 40 wt % hydroxyapatite, offer only modest mechanical improvements. Efforts to enhance strength by using stiffer polymers have largely failed, as increased polymer stiffness does not translate to improved composite mechanics. In contrast, natural bone’s load-bearing capability arises from the synergy between citrate, soft collagen, and ultrathin hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (~3 nanometers). Here, we show that elastic poly(octamethylene citrate) enables up to 60 wt % hydroxyapatite incorporation, mimicking the bone’s mineral content. Through a top-down “citrification” process and hot pressing, hydroxyapatite microparticles are partially dissolved and recrystallized into superthin (~5 nanometers) nanorods, enhancing organic-inorganic integration and replicating bone’s Ca/P ratios and architecture. The resulting composites exhibit compressive strengths exceeding 250 megapascals, unprecedented in polymer-mineral systems, offering a molecular design strategy for next-generation load-bearing orthopedic implants.”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of bone-targeting nanoparticles for treatment of MRSA

 

Bacterial infection of bone tissue is extremely difficult to treat due to poor drug delivery. Researchers at Temple University (Philadelphia) used PLGA (Cat# AP022, https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP022#h) ) from PolySciTech : Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop bone-targeting nanoparticles for treatment of bone-MRSA. This research holds promise to provide treatment for this disease. Read more: Guo, Pengbo, Bettina A. Buttaro, Hui Yi Xue, Ngoc T. Tran, and Ho Lun Wong. "Bone-targeting lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles for less invasive, injectable local antibiotic treatment of bone infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)." International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2025): 126539. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517325013766

“Effective treatment of osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) requires sufficiently high antibiotic concentrations at the infected bone sites. Local drug therapy such as antibiotic-impregnated beads or cement is a valuable option but requires invasive surgical procedures for implantation and sometimes removal. In this study, lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles decorated with alendronate, known as bone-targeting nanoparticles (BTN), were tailored for local antibiotic treatment of MRSA-osteomyelitis in a bone-targeting fashion. BTN loading linezolid demonstrated size around 100 nm in diameter that remained stable in serum- or calcium- supplemented medium, encapsulation efficiency around 60 % and controlled drug release properties, and were shown to be significantly more effective than free linezolid against MRSA both in their biofilm and intracellular forms. Significant bone-targeting affinity was demonstrated in hydroxyapatite screening (5.5-fold enhancement over no-alendronate nanoparticles) and ex vivo porcine bone model. BTN injected into animal legs resulted in lasting local bone-accumulation of nanoparticles with minimal distribution to most remote organs, leading to up to 34.9-fold antibiotic level enhancement at the injected bone legs over free drug group. In animal osteomyelitis model, BTN groups achieved multiple log10 scale reduction (p < 0.01) in bacteria CFU counts post-treatment with less blood platelet count reduction (p < 0.05) when compared with free drug group. Overall, this study highlights the excellent potential of a more active, less invasive nanodelivery-based approach for targeting those poorly accessible MRSA pathogens of osteomyelitis.”

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PLGA from Akina, Inc. used in development of microneedle patches for transdermal delivery of biologics.

 

Microneedles are a series of small, polymeric pointed features that penetrate the skin very slightly and allow for transdermal drug delivery. Researchers at University of Missouri-Kansas City used PLGA (Cat# AP320, https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP320#h) from PolySciTech : Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop microneedles loaded with peptides or proteins. This research holds promise to provide for transdermal delivery of these medicines. Read more: Hasan, Reaid, Yuhan Guo, Zhen Zhao, Yongren Li, Umar-Farouk Mamani, and Kun Cheng. "An Emulsion-Based Microneedle Formulation for Transdermal Delivery of Peptide Therapeutics." ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5c01566

“Polymeric microneedle patches represent a promising noninvasive platform for the transdermal delivery of peptide and protein therapeutics, and FDA-approved polymers are widely used for this purpose. However, maintaining peptide and protein stability during microneedle fabrication remains a significant challenge. Conventional strategies involve encapsulating within polymer nanoparticles/microparticles, or codissolving them with polymers in organic solvents before microneedle fabrication. These approaches are time-consuming and often lead to low loading efficiency and drug loss. In this study, we developed a novel direct emulsion-based encapsulation strategy that integrates peptides within the PLGA matrix during microneedle formation. This approach generates a uniform water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion that ensures homogeneous peptide dispersion while minimizing interfacial stress, eliminating the need for multistep spraying or postloading processes. The optimized PLGA-based microneedles exhibited uniform geometry, high drug-loading capacity, and strong mechanical integrity suitable for skin penetration. The encapsulated peptide maintains its biological activity after fabrication and during storage, confirming excellent peptide stability. In vivo studies demonstrated successful skin insertion and sustained peptide release for up to 72 h, supporting the potential of this platform for prolonged transdermal peptide delivery. Overall, this work presents a scalable, biocompatible, and solvent-safe microneedle fabrication strategy that preserves peptide functionality while enabling controlled drug release, making it a promising strategy for transdermal peptide therapeutics.”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of antigen delivery system for diagnostic applications

 

Immune system response is a critical parameter in inflammatory diseases, autoimmunity, cancer, and other pathological conditions. Researchers at University of Michigan and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used PLGA (cat# AP125 and AP073) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create antigen-conjugated scaffolds for T-cell analysis. This research holds promise to provide for diagnostic applications regarding the immune state in various pathological states. Read more: Wheeler, Sydney N., Mary E. Dickenson, Connor N. Joyce, Samantha N. Lukpat, Leon JMW Wagner, Andrés R. Muñoz-Rojas, and Aaron H. Morris. "Antigen-conjugated scaffolds enable sustained delivery of antigen and enrichment of antigen-specific T-cells." Journal of Controlled Release (2025): 114564. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365925011782

“Conjugation of peptide to polymer enables precise loading of biomaterial scaffolds. Ag-conjugated scaffolds exhibit sustained release of biologically active antigen. Ag delivery enriches specific CD4 T-cell clones at defined locations in vivo. Platform can deliver various antigens, including autoantigens. Approach has potential utility to monitor rare Ag-specific cells without expansion. Abstract: A thorough understanding of T-cell dynamics and interactions could improve patient care in autoimmunity, cancer immunotherapy, and myriad other conditions, yet monitoring antigen-specific T-cell clones is challenging. T-cells recognize antigens presented by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the context of major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs). Specific T-cell clones are rare in the blood (<1 in 100,000), and thus cell expansion which consequently alters cell phenotype and function is typically necessary before analysis. This motivates the development of new methods for enriching T-cell populations of interest without phenotypically altering them. Recent work has demonstrated that implantable biomaterial systems can recruit disease-relevant cells in autoimmune conditions, and that if antigens are present, antigen-specific T-cells become enriched in these materials. To date, antigen-loaded materials have exhibited uncontrolled loading, burst release, and subsequent T-cell exhaustion. In this report, we engineer a novel biomaterial antigen delivery system by conjugating antigens to the polymer backbone prior to porous scaffold fabrication. We demonstrate that this technique enables precise antigen loading via ratiometric mixing of modified and unmodified polymer. We show controlled release of antigen into the microenvironment and demonstrate that released antigen is processed and presented by APCs. Using this fabrication method, we achieve sustained release of peptide antigens over a period of 3 weeks in vitro. When implanted in healthy mice, these antigen-conjugated scaffolds are invaded by host myeloid and lymphoid cells and exhibit a dose-dependent enrichment of systemically circulating antigen-specific T-cell populations, while avoiding significant T-cell exhaustion. Finally, we apply this system to an autoantigen from multiple sclerosis (MS) and show release and interaction with autoantigen-specific T-cells. Using this technique, disease-relevant T-cells can be recruited for diagnostic assessment or for immunological research. Future work will investigate the potential of these systems to monitor disease onset and progression in vivo, co-deliver multiple antigens for assessment of epitope spreading, therapeutically target disease-relevant cells within a local niche in situ, and expand the platform for controlled delivery of therapeutic peptides in models beyond autoimmunity.”

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PLGA-PEG-NHS from PolySciTech:Akina used in development of camptothecin-loaded nanoparticles for cancer therapy

 

One method to treat cancer is to induce apoptosis, programmed cellular death, of the cancer cells. Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast and Juntendo University School of Medicine used PLGA-PEG-NHS (Cat# AI064) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create targeted nanoparticles for treatment of cancer. This research holds promise to provide for improved cancer therapies in the future. Read more: Boland, Anna J., Michelle K. Greene, Úna M. Herron, Michael C. Johnston, Peter Smyth, Hideo Yagita, Daniel B. Longley, and Christopher J. Scott. "Antitumor Activity of Death Receptor 5-Targeted Camptothecin-Loaded Nanoparticles in Murine Syngeneic Models." Biomacromolecules (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c01884

“Death receptor 5 (DR5) is a key mediator of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway that is often upregulated in tumors, rendering it an attractive target for cancer therapy. Activation of DR5 requires oligomerization, which can be achieved through multivalent presentation of DR5 ligands on nanoparticles. DR5-targeted nanoparticles can efficiently agonize DR5 to inhibit the growth of human xenografts, although it remains unclear whether these effects would translate to a syngeneic tumor model with an immunocompetent microenvironment. Here, we develop camptothecin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles coated with the murine DR5 antibody MD5–1 and demonstrate their pro-apoptotic effects in murine cell lines in vitro. Moreover, we show that these nanoparticles inhibit the growth of MC38 colorectal allografts in vivo by >90% relative to control nanoparticles. Collectively, our work confirms that the antitumor efficacy of DR5-targeted nanoparticles extends to syngeneic models, paving the way for future studies to explore their impact on tumor immunity and the surrounding microenvironment.”

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PEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used to develop nanoparticles for broad-acting antiviral vaccine

 

Eliciting an immune response suitable enough for a vaccine to be effective typically requires the use of adjuvants. These compounds are not the antibody target, directly, but act to increase the action of the immune system against the antibody targets they are packaged with. Researchers at University of Texas Austin, Indiana University School of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Virgina Polytechnic Institute, used mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AK010) available from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create TLR7 loaded nanoparticles to work as adjuvants increasing vaccine efficacy. This research holds promise to develop potent vaccines against a wide array of viral diseases. Read more: Huang, Sijin, Kanella M. Cohen, Liqiang Chen, Xiaowo Kang, Chang Liu, Megan E. Demouth, Wenxia Jiang et al. "Nanoparticle Adjuvant Design Enhances Germinal Center Responses Targeting Conserved Subdominant Epitopes for Pan‐Coronavirus Vaccine Development." Advanced Science (2025): e12100. https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/advs.202512100

“Current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines primarily elicit antibodies targeting the variable receptor-binding domain in the S1 subunit of the spike protein, resulting in limited cross-reactivity and short-lived immunity against emerging variants. The conserved S2 subunit presents a promising vaccine target for broad and durable protection, but the immunodominance in vaccine-induced germinal center (GC) responses hinders effective antibody generation against S2. Here, a polymeric toll-like receptor 7 agonist nanoparticle (TLR7-NP) adjuvant is reported, well designed to enhance lymph node targeting and more efficiently activate S2-specific B cells. When combined with Alum-adsorbed SARS-CoV-2 HexaPro spike protein, TLR7-NP promotes early GC recruitment of S2-specific B cells and overcomes the immunodominance, leading to early and robust S2-specific antibody responses. Compared to conventional TLR7-Alum adjuvanted subunit vaccine and clinically used SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, TLR7-NP adjuvant induces stronger humoral immune responses across sarbecoviruses and betacoronaviruses and promotes long-lived plasma cell and memory B cell formation. These findings present a direct B cell-activating adjuvant approach for effective pan-coronavirus vaccine development.”

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Purasorb(R) PLGA purchased from PolySciTech used in development of microfluidic nanoparticles for delivery of siRNA

 

Silencing RNA (siRNA) is a powerful tool which can inhibit the expression of select genes by binding to the respective counter-coded messenger RNA and preventing its transcription. It is, however, limited by its susceptibility to degradation by endogenous enzymes requiring a delivery system to transport it to the cell. Researchers at University of Napoli, University of Campania, University of Milano (Italy) used Purasorb (R) PLGA (Cat# CB001) available from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) as a distributed product from Corbion to develop a microfluidic system for delivery of siRNA. This research holds promise to provide for improved therapies in the future. Read more: Villano, Ersilia, Teresa Silvestri, Susy Brusco, Erika Esposito, Chiara Infolfi, Thomas L. Moore, Emma Mitidieri et al. "Emulsion-Solvent diffusion in a double-chip microfluidic platform for scalable production of Lipid@ PLGA nanoparticles delivering siRNA therapeutics." International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2025): 126440. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517325012773

“Abstract: Scalable nanoparticle manufacturing remains a key bottleneck in the clinical translation of RNA-based nanomedicines. In this study, we demonstrate the successful adaptation of a conventional emulsion–solvent diffusion protocol into an automated microfluidic workflow, illustrating its potential for streamlined and scalable nanoparticle production. Using the Sunshine™ microfluidic platform (Unchained Labs), we systematically optimized formulation and process parameters to produce siRNA-loaded hybrid lipid–polymer nanoparticles, featuring a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core and a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine shell (mDPPC@PLGA hNPs). Optimised mDPPC@PLGA hNPs exhibited key technological features, matching or exceeding the quality of their benchtop equivalents (bDPPC@PLGA hNPs). Using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a stabilizer, monodisperse mDPPC@PLGA hNPs with controlled size (<170 nm) and consistent zeta potential (–30 mV) were achieved with production yields ≥ 40 %. The ability of mDPPC@PLGA hNPs to effectively entrap and slowly release a siRNA targeting nuclear factor NF-κB (siNFκB) was successfully demonstrated. Structural characterization through thermodynamic and SAXS analyses confirmed that the microfluidic produced hNPs retained comparable internal architecture to their benchtop counterparts. Most notably, siNFκB-loaded mDPPC@PLGA hNPs resulted in effective in vitro downregulation of NFκB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated A549 lung epithelial cells. Collectively, these results establish a novel and robust approach for the scalable fabrication of functional, siRNA-loaded hybrid nanoparticles via emulsion–solvent diffusion, leveraging a commercially available, automated microfluidic system with a serial chip configuration. Schematic representation of the adaptation of the bench-top emulsion–solvent diffusion protocol to a microfluidic automated nanoparticle synthesis system with a double-chip in series configuration for the preparation of siRNA-loaded lipid@PLGA hNPs.”

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