PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of hyaluronic-acid conjugated nanocarriers for colorectal cancer therapy

 

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and it develops in the lower part of the large intestine. Researchers at Pusan National University used a series of PLGAs (AP037, AP040, AP082, and AP154) from Akina from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop hyaluronic acid conjugated PLGA for colorectal cancer (CRC)-targeted nanoparticles. This research holds promise to treat this common and deadly disease. Read more: Lee, Juho, Dongmin Kwak, Hyunwoo Kim, Muneeb Ullah, Jihyun Kim, Muhammad Naeem, Seonghwan Hwang et al. "Elucidating a Tumor‐Selective Nanoparticle Delivery Mechanism at the Colorectal Lumen–Tumor Interface for Precise Local Cancer Therapy." Small 21, no. 9 (2025): 2409994. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smll.202409994

“Although various colorectal cancer (CRC)-targeted nanoparticles have been developed to selectively deliver anticancer agents to tumor tissues, severe off-target side effects still persist due to unwanted systemic nanoparticle distribution, limiting the therapeutic outcome. Here, by elucidating a tumor-selective nanoparticle delivery mechanism occurring at the colorectal lumen–tumor interface, an alternative CRC-targeted delivery route is proposed, which enables highly tumor-selective delivery without systemic distribution, through direct drug delivery from the outside of the body (colorectal lumen) to tumors in the colorectum. Owing to the presence of accessible tumor-specific receptors such as CD44 at the colorectal lumen–tumor interface, but not at the colorectal lumen–normal tissue interface, colorectal luminal surface (CLS)-targeting ligand-functionalized nanoparticles selectively accumulate in CRC tissues without systemic distribution, resulting in successful local CRC therapy. The findings suggest that CLS-targeted lumen-to-tumor delivery can be a suitable strategy for highly CRC-specific drug delivery for precise local CRC therapy.”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of rivaroxaban delivery for diabetes treatment

 

Diabetes is related to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction. Researchers at Assiut University, University of Tabuk, Taibah University, University of Cincinnati, and Badr University in Assiut used PLGA (AP104) from Akina from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop a delivery system for rivaroxaban. This research holds promise to provide for treatment of diabetes. Read more: Elbadr, Mohamed M., Heba A. Galal, Helal F. Hetta, Hassabelrasoul Elfadil, Fawaz E. Alanazi, Shereen Fawzy, Hashim M. Aljohani et al. "Immunomodulatory Effect of Rivaroxaban Nanoparticles Alone and in Combination with Sitagliptin on Diabetic Rat Model." Diseases 13, no. 3 (2025): 87. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/3/87

“Background: Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation are key drivers of diabetes complications. Rivaroxaban (RX) and sitagliptin (SITA) are established therapies for thromboembolism and glycemic control, respectively. This study evaluated the novel therapeutic potential of nano-rivaroxaban (NRX) alone and in combination with sitagliptin (SITA) in mitigating inflammation and restoring immune balance in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Type 2 diabetes was induced in rats using a single injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Animals were divided into five groups: control, STZ-diabetic, RX-treated (5 mg/kg), NRX-treated (5 mg/kg), and NRX+SITA-treated (5 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). After 4 weeks of treatment, blood glucose, coagulation markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-35, TGF-β1, IL-10) were analyzed. Histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen was conducted. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess hepatic NF-κB expression. Results: STZ significantly elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-35, TGF-β1, IL-10), along with increased hepatic NF-κB expression and histopathological abnormalities in immune organs. NRX significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines, improved histopathological changes in organs, and decreased hepatic NF-κB expression. The combination therapy (NRX + SITA) achieved superior immune modulation, with enhanced cytokine profile restoration, reduced hepatic NF-κB expression, and near-complete histopathological normalization. Conclusions: This study underscores the promise of combining nanoparticle-based drug delivery with established therapies like sitagliptin to achieve superior immune modulation and inflammation control, presenting a potential therapeutic strategy for managing diabetes complications. Keywords: diabetes; nano-rivaroxaban; rivaroxaban; sitagliptin; streptozotocin”

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PEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of treatment for Lou Gehrig’s disease

 

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease can potentially be treated by a drug known as edaravone, however this drug does not transport into the brain tissue where it is needed due to the blood-brain-barrier. Researchers at University of Porto and University of Santiago de Compostela used PEG-PLGA (AK106) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop encapsulation techniques for the brain delivery of edaravone as part of ALS treatment. Read more: Aguiar, Brandon, Ana Rita Alfenim, Cláudia Sofia Machado, Joana Moreira, Miguel Pinto, Francisco J. Otero-Espinar, Fernanda Borges, and Carlos Fernandes. "Exploring Nano-Delivery Systems to Enhance the Edaravone Performance in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 5 (2025): 2146. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11900301/

“Edaravone is one of the treatment options for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, but its therapeutic efficacy is limited due to the incapacity to cross the blood–brain barrier, as well as its short life span and poor stability, which is ultimately caused by its tautomerism in physiological condions. This work presents an overview about the use of several nanoformulations based on polymeric, protein, lipidic, or hybrid structure as suitable and stable drug delivery systems for encapsulating edaravone. We also evaluated the functionalization of nanoparticles with pegylated chains using the polyethylene glycol or tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate and the possibility of preparing polymeric nanoparticles at different pH (7.4, 9, and 11). Edaravone was sucessfully encapsulated in polymeric, lipid–polymer hybrid, and lipidic nanoparticles. The use of higher pH values in the synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles has led to a decrease in nanoparticle size and an increase in the percentage of encapsulation efficiency. However, the resulting nanoformulations are not stable. Only polymeric and hybrid nanoparticles showed good stability over 80 days of storage, mainly at 4 °C. Overall, the nanoformulations tested did not show cytotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y cell line except the nanostructured lipid carrier formulations that showed some cytotoxicity possibly due to lipidic peroxidation. In conclusion, this work shows that edaravone can be encapsulated in different nanocarriers that could act as an interesting alternative for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Keywords: edaravone, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hybrid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of targeted, oral delivery of dexamethasone for ulcerative colitis treatment

 

Leukocyte esterase is an enzyme with pronounced upregulation near sights of inflamed colonic tissue. Researchers at Pusan National University, Korea Univesrsity, and Daegu Catholic University used PLGA (AP037) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop dexamethasone conjugated prodrugs for oral delivery. This research holds promise to provide for treatment against a wide range of irritable bowel disease (IBD) states. Read more: Lee, Juho, Aruzhan Saparbayeva, Jihyun Kim, Dongmin Kwak, Hyunwoo Kim, Muneeb Ullah, Md Lukman Hakim et al. "Leukocyte Esterase-Activated Nanoconjugates Enables Precise Local Therapy of Ulcerative Colitis via Inflamed Tissue-Selective Drug Delivery." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.5c11808

“Leukocyte esterase (LE), markedly upregulated in inflamed colonic tissues, offers a unique enzymatic trigger for selective drug activation in ulcerative colitis (UC). To exploit this pathological hallmark, we developed LE-activated nanoconjugates that enable inflamed tissue-selective drug delivery as a strategy to achieve precise local therapy for UC. Dexamethasone (DEX) was covalently conjugated to poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) via ester bonds to form nanoconjugates (DPNCs) with suppressed drug release during gastrointestinal transit. These nanoconjugates accumulated in inflamed colonic tissues via the epithelial enhanced permeability and retention (eEPR) effect and selectively released DEX in response to elevated LE activity. In a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model, orally administered DPNCs achieved superior colonic drug accumulation, minimized systemic distribution, and significantly improved therapeutic outcomes compared with free DEX. These findings highlight the potential of LE-activated nanoconjugates as an effective oral platform for precise and safe treatment of UC.”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of light-activated microparticles for precision antibiotic delivery

 

Near infrared (NIR) light is a form of long-wavelength light which can harmlessly pass through human tissue and be utilized to trigger actions inside the human body. Researchers at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth used PLGA (AP016) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop microparticles for NIR-triggered vancomycin delivery. This research holds promise to provide for precisely controlled delivery of drugs. Read more: Pokharel, Mishal, Abid Neron, Amit Kumar Dey, Aishwarya Raksha Siddharthan, Menaka Konara, Md Mainuddin Sagar, Tracie Ferreira, and Kihan Park. "Light-Responsive PLGA Microparticles for On-Demand Vancomycin Release and Enhanced Antibacterial Efficiency." Pharmaceutics 17, no. 8 (2025): 1007. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/8/1007

“Abstract: Background: A precise drug delivery system enables the optimization of treatments with minimal side effects if it can deliver medication only when activated by a specific light source. This study presents a controlled drug delivery system based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) designed for the sustained release of vancomycin hydrochloride. Methods: The MPs were co-loaded with indocyanine green (ICG), a near-infrared (NIR) responsive agent, and fabricated via the double emulsion method.They were characterized for stability, surface modification, biocompatibility, and antibacterial efficacy. Results: Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analyses confirmed significant increases in particle size and surface charge reversal following chitosan coating. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform morphology in uncoated MPs (1–10 μm) and irregular surfaces post-coating. Stability tests demonstrated drug retention for up to 180 days. Among formulations, PVI1 exhibited the highest yield (76.67 ± 1.3%) and encapsulation efficiency (56.2 ± 1.95%). NIR irradiation (808 nm) enhanced drug release kinetics, with formulation PVI4 achieving over 48.9% release, resulting in improved antibacterial activity. Chitosan-coated MPs (e.g., PVI4-C) effectively suppressed drug release without NIR light for up to 8 h, with cumulative release reaching only 10.89%. Without NIR light, bacterial colonies exceeded 1000 CFU; NIR-triggered release reduced them below 120 CFU. Drug release data fitted best with the zero-order and Korsmeyer–Peppas models, suggesting a combination of diffusion-controlled and constant-rate release behavior. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the promise of chitosan-coated NIR-responsive PLGA MPs for precise, on-demand antibiotic delivery and improved antibacterial performance. Keywords: near-infrared light; microparticles; antibiotic; drug delivery; controlled release; chitosan coating”

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Block PEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of curcumin delivery system for FGR treatment

 

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is the second leading cause of perinatal death and morbidity. Researchers at University of Washington used mPEG-PLGA (AK106) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create a delivery system to provide protective curcumin agents into the brain tissue to restrict inflammation. This research holds promise to prevent birth defects. Read more: Xu, N., Wixey, J., Chand, K., Wong, M., & Nance, E. (2025). Nano-formulated curcumin uptake and biodistribution in the fetal growth restricted newborn piglet brain. Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 1-15. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13346-025-01830-y

“Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5% to 10% of all pregnancies in developed countries and is the second most leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Life-long consequences of FGR range from learning and behavioral issues to cerebral palsy. To support the newborn brain following FGR, timely and accessible neuroprotection strategies are needed. Curcumin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles, which have been widely explored for the treatment of cancer, neurological disorders, and bacterial infections, have the potential to prevent and mitigate pathogenic inflammatory processes in the FGR brain. Curcumin is a hydrophobic molecule with poor aqueous solubility and therefore has been incorporated into nanoparticles to improve solubility and delivery. However, curcumin loading in many nanoparticles can be limited to 10% by weight or lower. Here, we first optimize the formulation process of curcumin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles to find a tunable, reproducible, and stable formulation with high curcumin loading and encapsulation efficiency. We establish a curcumin formulation with 39% curcumin loading and > 95% curcumin encapsulation efficiency. Using this formulation, we assessed the biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles in FGR piglets and normally grown (NG) piglets following different administration routes and evaluated brain cellular uptake. We show a significant amount of nanoparticle accumulation in the brain parenchyma of neonatal piglets as early as 4 h after intranasal administration. Nanoparticles colocalized in microglia, a therapeutic target of interest in FGR brain injury. This study demonstrates the potential of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles to treat neuroinflammation associated with FGR in the newborn.”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of retinol-delivery microparticle for arthritis treatment

 

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease commonly affecting joints. Researchers at University of California San Diego and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center used PLGA (Cat# AP018) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create trans retinoic acid loaded microparticles as a means to alleviate inflammation and swelling of arthritis. This research holds promise to provide improved treatment against this potentially crippling disease. Read more: Dolmat, Maksim, Julia Borges Paes Lemes, Wade T. Johnson, Elizabeth L. Wilkinson, Tony L. Yaksh, Nunzio Bottini, and Nisarg J. Shah. "Disease modifying biomaterials for modulating mechanical allodynia in a preclinical model of rheumatoid arthritis." Bioengineering & Translational Medicine (2025): e70054. https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/btm2.70054

“Pain is a key symptom associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can persist even in the context of overall disease control by standard-of-care disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Analgesic agents and corticosteroids are often used to supplement DMARDs for pain relief but lack disease modifying properties, and their sustained use carries adverse risks. In this work, we characterized the progression of pain sensitivity in the SKG mouse model of RA and evaluated the potential therapeutic interventions. Male and female SKG mice, after systemic mannan injection, developed a mechanical pain phenotype and joint swelling, with a strong inverse correlation between clinical arthritis scores and pain thresholds. To test potential interventions for pain alleviation, we evaluated all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles (ATRA-PLGA MP) administered via intra-articular injection, which we have previously demonstrated to be disease-modifying. The pain and inflammation patterns assessed by the von Frey test and clinical scoring showed ATRA-PLGA MP monotherapy reduced inflammation and alleviated mechanical allodynia in arthritic SKG mice, an effect that was amplified by combination treatments with standard-of-care agents. In early-stage arthritis, co-administration with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein (CTLA)-4-Ig, clinically known as abatacept, delayed disease progression and sustained the reduction of mechanical allodynia. In established arthritis, sequential treatment with the corticosteroid dexamethasone (Dex) reduced cumulative disease burden and reduced mechanical allodynia. These findings highlight the potential of combining ATRA-PLGA MP with standard-of-care treatments as a potential strategy to enhance the efficacy and durability of disease modification and pain alleviation for arthritis management.”

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