Fluorescent PLGA from PolySciTech used in tracking lymph node drainage in rodent model as part of allergy research

 

Allergic reactions are a T-cell mediated condition which is typified by a pathological immune response yet remains not fully understood. Researchers at University of Pittsburgh used fluorescent PLGA-FPR648 (Cat# AV008) PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to prepare fluorescent microparticles for the study which were used to track drainage through the lymph nodes in rodent model during allergic interactions. This research holds promise to improve understanding of allergic interactions and work towards improved treatment options. Read more: Bentley, Elizabeth R., Stacia Subick, Jake Doran, Julie Kobyra, Stephen C. Balmert, and Steven R. Little. "Local delivery of an adenosine receptor agonist reduces inflammation associated with contact hypersensitivity." Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2025): 1-16. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13346-025-01831-x

“Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a T-cell mediated inflammatory skin condition, is prompted by multiple, subsequent exposures to contact allergens (e.g., nickel). Current treatment approaches for ACD include repeated topical application or systemic delivery of immunosuppressants. These treatment strategies have many limitations, including non-specific mechanism of actions and the occurrence of side effects due to their delivery method. For this reason, we developed a novel therapeutic approach that is based upon adenosine (Ado) receptor signaling, a known anti-inflammatory pathway. Specifically, we developed a polymer microparticle-based controlled release system capable of presenting IBMECA (IBMECA-MPs), an Ado receptor agonist, to the local environment. In this study, we first sought to study the immunosuppressive effects of IBMECA on immune cells implicated in the pathogenesis of ACD (e.g., dendritic cells) in vitro. Subsequently, we examined the effects of enhancing adenosine signaling in contact hypersensitivity (CHS), an in vivo model of ACD, through local administration of IBMECA-MPs. We observed that IBMECA-MPs were capable of reducing the inflammatory response associated with CHS by reducing maturation markers of antigen-presenting cells, altering cytokine secretion, and reducing relative frequencies of effector T cell populations. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of therapeutic efficacy of IBMECA in CHS, as well as the first proof-of-principle demonstration of IBMECA application in the context of a local drug delivery system. Ultimately, this delivery system has the potential to be adapted for use in other T-cell mediated inflammatory conditions (e.g., transplant rejection), suggesting broader implications of this study.”

mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AV008): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AV008#h

Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/

Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/

Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech Used in Development of anti-TNF-alpha therapy for Crohn’s disease treatment.

 

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by over immune response. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used PEG-PLGA (AK106) ) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop nanoparticles which deliver monoclonal antibodies for anti-TNF-alpha which reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and signals the body to take a less aggressive immune response. This research holds promise to improve treatment of IBS. Read more: Zhang, Yicheng, Ling Li, Jiayuan Kong, Yuanmuhuang Long, Xiaoya Lu, Christopher J. Erb, Yurun Miao et al. "Long-acting injectable nanoparticle formulation for sustained release of anti-TNF-α antibody therapeutic in ulcerative colitis treatment." Journal of Controlled Release 380 (2025): 1005-1016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365925001567

“Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, remitting, and relapsing conditions of the gastrointestinal tract with incompletely elucidated etiology. The anti-TNF-α mAbs represent one of aflash nanocomplexation and flash nanoprecipitation process, resulting in particles with a narrow size distribution and tunable release profile, with the longest in vitro release lasting over four months. These mAb-releasing NPs are then incorporated into hyaluronic acid hydrogel microparticles (MPs) to enhance tissue retention, thus extending the duration of mAb release in vivo. A single i.m. injection of the LAI can maintain the serum mAb level above the therapeutically effective concentration for over 100 days in healthy mice. In a 9-week study using a dextran sulfate-induced chronic colitis model, the anti-TNF-α LAI formulation demonstrates substantial therapeutic efficacy and a better safety profile than free mAb injections. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of this LAI system in maintaining a persistent serum mAb level and its potential as a versatile, safer, and effective delivery system for antibody therapeutics.”

mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AK106): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK106#h

Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/

Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/

Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

MidWest GMP for scaled clinical formulation manufacturing

 

Midwest GMP was founded to bridge the gap between benchtop research and cGMP manufacturing for early clinical use of extended-release pharmaceuticals. Construction completed in 2025 and located in West Lafayette, Indiana with over 1100 square feet of clean-room space available, MidWest GMP is available to work on your project. Contact Direct Chad Johnson (cj@akinainc.com) to discuss your project or visit www.midwestgmp.com to learn more.

PLGA from PolySciTech : Akina used in development of hydrogel for treatment of heart disease

 

Heart disease is the main cause of death worldwide. Researchers at University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Akron used PLGA (cat# AP154) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop SDF-1a releasing particles to load in with hydrogel matrix to repair damaged heart tissue. This research holds promise to improve treatments against heart-attacks and related cardiovascular diseases. Rear more: Xu, Jiazhu, Jacob Brown, Rubia Shaik, Luis Soto-Garcia, Jun Liao, Kytai Nguyen, Ge Zhang, and Yi Hong. "Injectable myocardium-derived hydrogels with SDF-1α releasing for cardiac repair." Biomaterials Advances (2025): 214203. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772950825000305

“Developed a nanocomposite hydrogel by encapsulating SDF-1α-loaded PLGA NPs into a cdECM hydrogel. Achieved sustained SDF-1α release over four weeks in vitro, compared to one week for direct encapsulation. PLGA NPs incorporation enhanced cdECM hydrogel mechanics, significantly improving both stiffness and strength. Demonstrated the ability to accelerate angiogenesis and restore cardiac function in a rat MI model. Myocardial infarction (MI) is a predominant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Therapeutic chemokines, such as stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α), present a promising opportunity to treat the profibrotic remodeling post-MI if they can be delivered effectively to the injured tissue. However, direct injection of SDF-1α or physical entrapment in a hydrogel has shown limited efficacy. Here, we developed a sustained-release system consisting of SDF-1α loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) and an injectable porcine cardiac decellularized extracellular matrix (cdECM) hydrogel. This system demonstrated a sustained release of SDF-1α over four weeks while there is one week release for SDF-1α directly encapsulated in the cdECM hydrogel during in vitro testing. The incorporation of PLGA NPs into the cdECM hydrogel significantly enhanced its mechanical properties, increasing the Young's modulus from 561 ± 228 kPa to 1007 ± 2 kPa and the maximum compressive strength from 639 ± 42 kPa to 1014 ± 101 kPa. This nanocomposite hydrogel showed good cell compatibility after 7 days of culture with H9C2 cells, while the released SDF-1α retained its bioactivity, as evidenced by its chemotactic effects in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo studies further highlighted its significant ability to promote angiogenesis in the infarcted area and improve cardiac function after intramyocardial injection. These results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of combining local release of SDF-1α with the cdECM hydrogel for MI treatment.”

PLGA (Cat# AP154): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP154#h

Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/

Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/

Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

Video Guide to PST Website

PolySciTech Website is very large with many products and a great deal of information and functions. Learn more about how to navigate it with Akina’s video guide here: https://youtu.be/Tjlorp1lH0s

Swag for 2025: T-shirt, Multi-tool

Qualifying orders from PolySciTech (www.PolySciTech.com) can receive a TSA compliant branded multitool, perfect for opening packages and doing other odd-jobs around the lab. Larger orders can receive a nerdy T-shirt. When you want something to release immediately use WD40. When you want it to release never use duct tape. When you want it to release later use PolySciTech.

PLGA-PEG-NH2 from PolySciTech used in research on protein corona on nanoparticle transport

 

In the human body nanoparticles naturally adsorb proteins and this affects the transport of the particles inside the human body. Researchers at University of Technology Sydney, University of Adelaide, and The University of Melbourne used PLGA-PEG-NH2 (cat# AI169) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to analyze the effects of protein formation on nanoparticle transport. This research can improve drug delivery approaches in the future. Read more: Rennie, Claire, Nabila Morshed, Matthew Faria, Lyndsey Collins-Praino, and Andrew Care. "Nanoparticle Association with Brain Cells Is Augmented by Protein Coronas Formed in Cerebrospinal Fluid." Molecular Pharmaceutics (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c01179

“Neuronanomedicine harnesses nanoparticle technology for the treatment of neurological disorders. An unavoidable consequence of nanoparticle delivery to biological systems is the formation of a protein corona on the nanoparticle surface. Despite the well-established influence of the protein corona on nanoparticle behavior and fate, as well as FDA approval of neuro-targeted nanotherapeutics, the effect of a physiologically relevant protein corona on nanoparticle-brain cell interactions is insufficiently explored. Indeed, less than 1% of protein corona studies have investigated protein coronas formed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid surrounding the brain. Herein, we utilize two clinically relevant polymeric nanoparticles (PLGA and PLGA-PEG) to evaluate the formation of serum and CSF protein coronas. LC–MS analysis revealed distinct protein compositions, with selective enrichment/depletion profiles. Enhanced association of CSF precoated particles with brain cells demonstrates the importance of selecting physiologically relevant biological fluids to more accurately study protein corona formation and subsequent nanoparticle-cell interactions, paving the way for improved nanoparticle engineering for in vivo applications.”

PLGA-PEG-NH2 (Cat# AI169): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AI169#h

Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/

Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/

Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/