PLA-PEG-PLA-diacrylate from PolySciTech used in development of acid-sensitive drug delivery system

 

Most disease states lead to reduced pH in the microenvironment due to increased glycolysis. Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, and Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, used PLA-PEG-PLA-diacrylate (AI172) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop an acid sensitive capsule which is attracted to low pH in solution. This research holds promise to provide for improved drug delivery to a wide range of disease states. Read more: Cao, Zheng, Xueqing Cheng, Xiulian Lu, Qian He, Qiong Dai, Liyun Zhang, Xiang Zhang et al. "Universal diseased-site targeting via glycolysis-driven lactic acid gradient." Science Advances 12, no. 25 (2026): eaeb4570. https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciadv.aeb4570

“Targeted delivery of protein therapeutics remains challenging for translating biologics into effective treatments. Here, we introduce a universal strategy leveraging elevated glycolysis, a hallmark of many pathological states, and its resulting extracellular acidification as a navigational cue. Therapeutic proteins are encapsulated within pH-responsive polymer shells that remain near-neutral at physiological pH but gradually gain positive charge under acidic conditions. This dynamic charge modulation allows nanocapsules to sense pH gradients between healthy and diseased tissues, directing them toward pathological sites. Unlike receptor-mediated targeting that operates over nanometer scales, this receptor-independent approach enables long-range targeting. In vivo models of cancer, chronic inflammation, and acute injury demonstrate selective accumulation of encapsulated proteins at diseased sites, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. By transforming a ubiquitous metabolic signature into a directional driving force, this lactate acid gradient–mediated targeting (LaGET) platform offers a previously underexplored paradigm for targeted delivery of protein therapeutics.”

AI172 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AI172#h

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Meet representatives of Akina, Inc. at Poster #416 at the 2026 CRS Annual meeting

mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of transplanted organ delivery system to reduce organ rejection.

 

A common problem associated with organ transplantation is the rejection of the organ by the recipient’s immune system. Systemic immunosuppressants have severe side effects due to their non-specific nature. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Seoul National University used mPEG PLGA (AK102, AK110) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop tocilizumab loaded nanoparticles to reduce organ rejection. This research holds promise to improve the success of organ transplant surgeries. Read more: Jung, S., Y. Park, N. Hayes, P. M. Patel, J. Kim, J. Doh, J. S. Allan, J. C. Madsen, and R. Abdi. "Intraorgan and Targeted Nanodelivery in Organ Transplantation of Non-Human Primates." American Journal of Transplantation (2026). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613526026201

“While systemic immunosuppression is standard in transplantation, it carries substantial toxicity and does not achieve adequate drug delivery to key immunologic sites. Nanoparticles (NPs) can enable targeted local immunomodulation with reduced systemic exposure. We evaluated the feasibility of NP delivery to the two principal sites of alloimmunity: the donor organ and the recipient lymph nodes (LNs). For intraorgan delivery, we have synthesized and characterized a PLGA-based NP platform to encapsulate tocilizumab (TCZ). NP-TCZ shows a uniform diameter of ∼100 nm and releases TCZ at a controlled rate with a half-life of 3.4 days. NP-TCZ showed stronger inhibition of LPS-induced IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α production from human macrophages, as compared to free TCZ. In a non-human primate (NHP) ex vivo lung perfusion model, fluorescent-labeled NPs were observed to enter HLA-DR+, CD11b+, and CD20+ immune cells of the lung parenchyma and graft-associated LNs. To test delivery to recipient LNs after transplantation, we synthesized large-scale NPs conjugated with MECA79 to target high endothelial venules (HEV) in recipient draining lymph nodes (DLNs). MECA79-NPs administered systemically in NHP skin allograft models accumulated in DLNs at levels 17-fold higher than in non-draining nodes and localized to macrophages adjacent to HEVs. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of nanotherapeutics in NHP transplantation.”

AK102 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK102#h

AK110 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK110#h

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Meet representatives of Akina, Inc. at Poster #416 at the 2026 CRS Annual meeting

PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of vocal cord fibrosis treatment to protect speech

 

Researchers at University of Cincinnati used PLGA polymers (Cat# AP049 and AP040) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop photoactive implants which deliver Pirfenidone as a treatment of vocal fold fibrosis. This research holds promise to provide for treating loss of speech due to scarring or trauma. Read more: Mwaniki, Joseph, James Kelley, and Yoonjee Park. "Biodegradable Nanoparticle-in-Implant Platform for Sustained and Light-Boosted Pirfenidone Delivery." bioRxiv (2026): 2026-06. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.17.732517.abstract

“Vocal fold (VF) fibrosis is a major cause of persistent dysphonia due to excessive extracellular matrix deposition and tissue stiffening that disrupt normal vocal fold vibration. Current treatment approaches are limited by the need for repeated local injections and inadequate long-term therapeutic control. Pirfenidone (PFD), an FDA-approved antifibrotic agent, has demonstrated potential for reducing fibrosis; however, its short half-life and systemic adverse effects limit conventional administration strategies. In this study, we developed a sustained and near-infrared (NIR)-responsive local delivery platform by integrating PFD-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles into biodegradable PLGA implants for dose-controllable antifibrotic delivery. PFD-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated using an oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nanoparticles with small, medium, and large hydrodynamic diameters were generated to evaluate the effect of particle size on release behavior. Gold nanorods (AuNRs) were incorporated to enable photothermal NIR-triggered release enhancement. The nanoparticles were subsequently loaded into non-porous PLGA (90:10) implants and evaluated for long-term in vitro release under physiological conditions with and without pulsed 1064 nm laser irradiation. The nanoparticle-loaded implants demonstrated sustained PFD release for over 190 days with minimal initial burst release (<2.5%). NIR irradiation enhanced PFD release compared with non-irradiated controls across all nanoparticle sizes. Smaller nanoparticles produced greater cumulative release than medium and large nanoparticles due to shorter diffusion pathways and larger surface-area-to-volume ratios. Prior to implant fracture, cumulative PFD release reached approximately 20.2%, 14.8%, and 12.3% of total loading for small, medium, and large nanoparticle groups under 2-min irradiation conditions, respectively. Dialysis membrane studies further demonstrated that the PLGA capsule acted as an additional diffusion barrier that substantially prolonged release compared with nanoparticles alone. Overall, this study demonstrates a hybrid nanoparticle-in-implant strategy capable of providing sustained and irradiation-enhanced local PFD delivery with tunable release characteristics. These findings support the potential of biodegradable, dose-controllable implant systems for long-term management of vocal fold fibrosis while reducing the need for repeated interventions.”

AP049 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP049#h

AP040 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP040#h

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

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

Meet representatives of Akina, Inc. at Poster #416 at the 2026 CRS Annual meeting

PLA from PolySciTech used in development of commodity plastic for packaging uses

 

Plastic pollution is a global problem affecting waterways and land damaging many environments. Researchers at Louisiana State University used PLA (AP047 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP047#h) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop lignin composite plastics for packaging materials. This research holds promise to provide for reduced plastics pollution in the future. Read more: Mendez, Omar, Carlos Astete, Rafael Cueto, Fannyuy Kewir, Jessica Eberhard, Thanida Chuacharoen, Olivia Springer, Marie Howe, and Cristina Sabliov. "Effect of Lignin Incorporation on Properties of Polyester Films of Lignin-Grafted-PCL/PLGA/PLA Polymers as Packaging Materials." ACS Omega 11, no. 22 (2026): 32252-32262. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsomega.5c13155

“This article reports on the effect of lignin on the properties of films made from lignin (LN) grafted to either PCL, PLGA, or PLA. LN-PCL/PLGA/PLA polymers were synthesized by an acylation reaction, and lignin grafting was confirmed using FTIR and H NMR spectroscopy. Films were made from the grafted polymers with a solvent-casting technique. The thermal, mechanical, and functional properties of the films were measured using standard methods and compared against the properties of the polyester films without lignin. Thermal analysis of the films showed glass transition temperatures of 55.9, 46.2, and 56 °C for LN-PCL, LN-PLGA, and LN-PLA, similar to those of the free polyesters. LN grafting reduced strain at break and yield strength, particularly when grafted to PLA, while having minimal impacts on PCL and PLGA. All LN-PCL/PLGA/PLA films presented an UV transmittance below 15%, an improvement over those of the polyesters measuring 60% and up, showing a high potential as a UV-shielding material. Contact angle analysis indicated no effect on the wettability of the films from incorporating lignin, with an average water contact angle of 82.71 ± 8.42°. While permeability was similar across polymers, ranging from 3.6 × 1012 to 8.5 × 10–12 g/Pa*s*m for PLGA and PCL films, that of LN-PLA was significantly higher (1.5 × 1011 ± 1.9 × 10–12g/Pa*s*m), but in the same range. In summary, the lignin films had comparable properties to those of the neat polyesters while having higher UV-shielding properties, indicating the potential of lignin-grafted materials as biodegradable alternatives for packaging UV-sensitive products.”

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PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of colistin-loaded nanoparticles for treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria

Drug resistant bacterial infections are difficult to treat. Researchers at Assuit University, University of Tabuk, and Sohag University used PLGA (AP154 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP154#h) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.PolySciTech.com) to develop nanoparticles for treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This research holds promise to provide therapy against difficult to treat infections. Read more: Abdelaleem, Mahitab S., Helal F. Hetta, Noura H. Abd Ellah, Doaa S. Mohamed, and Mohamed A. El-Mokhtar. "Colistin-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles Enhance the Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity and Modulate Virulence Gene Expression in Escherichia Coli." Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation 21, no. 6 (2026): 602. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12247-026-10833-2

“The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli, including strains with reduced susceptibility to last-resort antibiotics such as colistin, represents a major global health concern. Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have been proposed to enhance antimicrobial efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and virulence-modulating effects of colistin-loaded nanoparticles (CS-NPs) in comparison with free colistin () against clinical E. coli isolates. CS-NPs were synthesized using the nanoprecipitation technique and characterized for particle size and polydispersity index and morphology. Antibacterial activity was assessed by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using broth microdilution. Biofilm formation and inhibition were quantified using crystal violet staining. The relative expression of key virulence-associated genes (luxR, luxS, mqsR, fliA, motA, fimH, gapA, and flhD) was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Statistical comparisons were performed using appropriate parametric tests between treatment groups. CS-NPs exhibited significantly lower MIC values (0.0625–0.25 µg/mL) compared to free CS (0.5–2.0 µg/mL, p = 0.012). Biofilm formation was substantially inhibited by CS-NPs at both tested concentrations, with reductions of 63.8% and 56.7%, whereas free CS showed minimal inhibition (12.8% and 3.7%). Furthermore, CS-NPs treatments significantly downregulated all tested virulence-related genes, with higher suppression compared to equivalent doses of free CS. In contrast, low-dose free CS (0.25 µg/mL) showed minimal effect on gene expression. CS-NPs showed significantly improved in vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, and modulated the virulence-associated gene expression in clinical E. coli isolates. These findings support the further development of nano-formulated colistin as a potential strategy to combat MDR E. coli, highlighting its promise for future in vivo studies and clinical applications.”

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Akina, Inc Controlled Release Society Scientific Poster Presentation

 

From Jul 6 - 9th, Akina, Inc. (https://akinainc.com/) will be presenting a scientific poster titled “Hydroxyl labelling and analysis of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymers by napthyl isocyanate and limitations” as poster number 416 at the CRS 2026 Annual meeting and exposition at the Lisbon Congress Centre in Lisbon, Portugal (https://crs2026annualmeeting.eventscribe.net/index.asp). #Research #CRS2026 #Science #polymers

PLA-NHS from PolySciTech used in development of PLA-hyaluronate for brain cancer therapy

 

Brain cancer remains difficult to treat due to problems with drug delivery. Researchers at Clemson University used PLA-NHS (cat# AI174 https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AI174#h) to conjugate this polymer to amine-modified hyaluronic acid. This co-polymer was used for delivery of doxorubicin to glioblastoma cells. This research holds promise to provide for treatment of brain cancer in the future. Read more: Chaudhri, Apoorvi, Molli Garifo, Pranavi Thatavarthi, Torrick Fletcher Jr, and Jessica Larsen. "Hyaluronic acid-b-polylactic acid polymersomes facilitate CD44-mediated delivery of doxorubicin to glioblastoma in vitro." bioRxiv (2026): 2026-05. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.26.727934.abstract

“Glioblastoma represents a highly aggressive brain tumor with low survival and no response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Temozolomide, the current standard of care chemotherapy, improves patient survival by only about 6 months because of several resistance mechanisms, including unmethylated MGMT, which enables repair of chemotherapy-induced DNA damage. Thus, additional treatments strategies are necessary to investigate efficient responses towards glioblastoma. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent that is independent of MGMT methylation and instead works through inhibition of topoisomerase (TOPO) II, an enzyme necessary for DNA replication of the tumor. The inability of doxorubicin to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) precludes its use in glioblastoma. Polymersome nanoparticles have the potential to transport agents across the BBB. Here, we develop hyaluronic acid-b-polylactic acid (HA-PLA) polymeric nanoparticles called polymersomes, encapsulate them with DOX and investigate the ability of our system to induce apoptosis in a human glioblastoma cell line. The HA-PLA polymersomes show specificity and receptor-mediated endocytosis towards CD44-positive U87 glioblastoma cells due to the natural affinity of HA (hyaluronic acid) to CD44. Our HLA-PLA-DOX system promotes apoptosis of glioblastoma through inhibition of topoisomerase (TOPO) II. Thus, our system could allow tumor specificity through HA-CD44 affinity and slow drug release through pH sensitivity of PLA in the acidic tumor microenvironment.”

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

PrecisionGelTM from Vivos https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/vivos/