PLA from PolySciTech:Akina used in development of inulin-PLA copolymer for cancer therapy

 

While poly(ethylene glycol) is commonly applied to create long-circulating nanoparticles, certain patients develop PEG allergic reactions requiring alternative options. Recently, researchers at University of Salerno (Italy) PLA (cat# AP005, AP231) and mPEG-PLA (cat# AK009) from PolySciTech division of Akina (www.polyscitech.com) to develop long-circulating nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. This research holds promise to improve development of nanotherapies in the future. Read more: Sardo, Carla, Teresa Mencherini, Carmela Tommasino, Tiziana Esposito, Paola Russo, Pasquale Del Gaudio, and Rita Patrizia Aquino. "Inulin-g-poly-D, L-lactide, a sustainable amphiphilic copolymer for nano-therapeutics." Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2022): 1-17. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13346-022-01135-4

“Cancer therapies started to take a big advantage from new nanomedicines on the market. Since then, research tried to better understand how to maximize efficacy while maintaining a high safety profile. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), the gold standard for nanomedicines coating design, is a winning choice to ensure a long circulation and colloidal stability, while in some cases, patients could develop PEG-directed immunoglobulins after the first administration. This lead to a phenomenon called accelerated blood clearance (ABC effect), and it is correlated with clinical failure because of the premature removal of the nanosystem from the circulation by immune mechanism. Therefore, alternatives to PEG need to be found. Here, looking at the backbone structural analogy, the hydrophilicity, flexibility, and its GRAS status, the natural polysaccharide inulin (INU) was investigated as PEG alternative. In particular, the first family of Inulin-g-poly-D,L-lactide amphiphilic copolymers (INU-PLAs) was synthesized. The new materials were fully characterized from the physicochemical point of view (solubility, 1D and 2D NMR, FT-IR, UV–Vis, GPC, DSC) and showed interesting hybrid properties compared to precursors. Moreover, their ability in forming stable colloids and to serve as a carrier for doxorubicin were investigated and compared with the already well-known and well-characterized PEGylated counterpart, polyethylene glycol-b-poly-D,L-lactide (PEG-PLA). This preliminary investigation showed INU-PLA to be able to assemble in nanostructures less than 200 nm in size and capable of loading doxorubicin with an encapsulation efficiency in the same order of magnitude of PEG-PLA analogues.”