PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of Notch-signaling delivery nanoparticles to reduce fetal developmental problems

 

Notch signaling indicates a specific cellular signaling pathway which is involved in embryonic development. Failure for this pathway to continue its signaling cascade can lead to developmental problems in a growing embryo. Recently, researchers at University of Texas at Arlington used two different molecular weights of PLGA (AP081, AP154) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to create nanoparticles for intracellular plasmid delivery. This research may help reduce fetal developmental problems. Read more: Messerschmidt, Victoria L., Aneetta E. Kuriakose, Uday Chintapula, Samantha Laboy, Thuy Thi Dang Truong, LeNaiya A. Kydd, Justyn Jaworski, Kytai T. Nguyen, and Juhyun Lee. "Notch Intracellular Domain Plasmid Delivery via Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles to Upregulate Notch Signaling." bioRxiv (2021). https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.16.440241v1.abstract

“Abstract: Notch signaling is a highly conserved signaling system that is required for embryonic development and regeneration of organs. When the signal is lost, maldevelopment occurs and leads to a lethal state. Liposomes and retroviruses are most commonly used to deliver genetic material to cells. However, there are many drawbacks to these systems such as increased toxicity, nonspecific delivery, short half-life, and stability after formulation. We utilized the negatively charged and FDA approved polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) to encapsulate Notch Intracellular Domain-containing plasmid in nanoparticles. In this study, we show that primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells readily uptake the nanoparticles with and without specific antibody targets. We demonstrated that our nanoparticles also are nontoxic, stable over time, and compatible with blood. We also determined that we can successfully transfect primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with our nanoparticles in static and dynamic environments. Lastly, we elucidated that our transfection upregulates the downstream genes of Notch signaling, indicating that the payload was viable and successfully altered the genetic downstream effects.”