PLGA-PEG-NHS from PolySciTech used in development of novel targeted nanoparticle therapy

 
Nanoparticles can be used to provide for improved blood circulation and drug targeting to specific locations within the body. There are many different designs for creating targeted nanoparticles for treating different diseases. Researchers at Queen's University Belfast, University of Aberdeen, and Elasmogen Ltd. used PLGA-PEG-NHS (AI064) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create fluorescent nanoparticles with vinyl sulfone functionality. This research holds promise to provide for improved drug delivery methodologies. Read more: Leach, Adam, Marie Finnegan, Mariana Stefani Machado, Laura Ferguson, John Steven, Peter Smyth, Andrew Porter, Caroline Barelle, Efrosyni Themistou, and Christopher J. Scott. "Functionalization of polymeric nanoparticles with targeting VNAR ligands using vinyl sulfone conjugation." Journal of Materials Chemistry B (2023). https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2023/tb/d2tb01985j

“Abstract: Actively targeted drug loaded nanoparticles represent an exciting new form of therapeutics for cancer and other diseases. These formulations are complex and in order to realize their ultimate potential, optimization of their preparation is required. In this current study, we have examined the conjugation of a model targeting ligand, conjugated in a site-specific manner using a vinyl sulfone coupling approach. A disulfide-functionalized poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-stat-(bis(2-methacryloyl)oxyethyl disulfide) (PLA-b-P(OEGMA-stat-DSDMA)) diblock copolymer was synthesized by simultaneous ring opening polymerization (ROP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Subsequently, the disulfide bonds of the polymer were reduced to thiols and divinyl sulfone was attached to the polymer using thiol–ene chemistry to produce the vinyl sulfone (VS)-functionalized PLA-b-P(OEGMA-stat-VSTEMA) amphiphilic block copolymer. Single emulsion – solvent evaporation was employed using a blend of this polymer with poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) to produce VS-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles. The ability of these novel nanoparticles to attach ligands was then exemplified using a single domain variable new antigen receptor (VNAR) with a free carboxyl terminal cysteine residue. The resulting VNAR-functionalized nanoparticles were found to maintain specific affinity to their cognate antigen (DLL4) for at least 72 h at 4 °C. The simplicity of the degradable amphiphilic block copolymer synthesis and the efficiency of VNAR conjugation to the VS-functionalized nanoparticles show the potential of this platform for therapeutic development.”

Video: https://youtu.be/0nO2MGNR0tA

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