Synthesis and self-association behavior of biodegradable amphiphilic poly[bis(ethyl glycinat-N-yl)phosphazene]- poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers with varying compositions of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and hydrophobic poly[bis(ethyl glycinat-N-yl)phosphazene] (PNgly) were synthesized via the controlled cationic-induced polymerization of a phosphoranimine (Cl(3)P=NSiMe(3)) at ambient temperature using a PEO-phosphoranimine macroinitiator. The aqueous-phase transition behavior of PEO-PNgly-3 (M(n) = 10,000) and micelle formation of both PEO-PNgly-3 and PEO-PNgly-4 (M(n) = 8,500) were investigated using fluorescence techniques and dynamic light scattering. The critical micelle concentrations (cmc's) of PEO-PNgly-3 and PEO-PNgly-4 were determined to be 3 and 12 mg/L with the mean diameters of micelles being 120 and 130 nm, respectively. The hydrolytic degradation of these diblock copolymers was also studied in solution. These studies coupled with the biodegradability of the poly[bis(ethyl glycinat-N-yl)phosphazene] block to give benign products make PEO-PNgly copolymers well-suited for a wide variety of biomedical applications including novel biodegradable drug-delivery systems.     

Synthesis and decoloring properties of sodium humate/poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

A series of novel sodium humate/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (SH/PNIPA) hydrogels were synthesized by solution polymerization. The swelling and decoloring properties of SH/PNIPA hydrogels were also examined. Experiment results show that there exist hydrogen-bonding interactions between SH and PNIPA in the SH/PNIPA hydrogels network, which are not strong enough to disrupt the aggregation of dehydrated PNIPA chains at phase transition temperature, leading to the same volume phase transition temperature as pure PNIPA hydrogel. The adsorption and desorption of methylene blue (MB) for the hydrogels were influenced by temperature, initial MB concentration and SH amount. Low temperature favors the adsorption and desorption of MB. Appropriate SH amount of the hydrogels is crucial for the adsorption and desorption of MB. The maximum adsorption capacity was 10.8 mg MB per gram of SH/PNIPA gel.     

Synthesis,characterization, and preliminary biological study of glycoconjugates of poly(styrene-co-maleic acid)

Three derivatives of the biocompatible polymer poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) were obtained with 1-amino-1-deoxy-beta-D-galactose, 1-amino-1-deoxy-beta-D-glucose, and 1-amino-1-deoxy-beta-D-lactose, respectively. The amino sugars were chemically conjugated via formation of an amide bond between the anomeric amino group of the sugar residue and the anhydride of the copolymer, giving the corresponding glycoconjugate derivatives. Colorimetric assay of the unreacted amino groups and elemental analysis were used to determine the degree of substitution. About 56%, 54%, and 94% of the available anhydride groups reacted to give galactosyl-amide (SMA-Gal), glucosyl-amide (SMA-Gluc), and lactosyl-amide (SMA-Lac) branched polymers, respectively. The synthesized glycopolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, circular dichroism, and UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. The release of glucosylamine from the glucosyl-amide branched polymer, by basic hydrolysis, was monitored by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography and by capillary electrophoresis, providing for an additional check of the degree of substitution of this specific polymer derivative. Biological activity tests showed that both SMA-Gal and SMA-Lac allow adhesion of HepG2 hepatic cells about five times larger than that of hydrolyzed, underivatized SMA.     

Synthesis, solid-state structure, and surface properties of end-capped poly(L-lactide)

End-capped poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) samples with dodecyl or 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl (MEEE) ester were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of zinc dodecanoxide or zinc 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxide as a catalyst, respectively. On the basis of NMR analysis, it was confirmed that the carboxylic acid chain ends of PLLA molecules were selectively substituted by dodecyl or MEEE ester groups. To evaluate the wettability on the surface of end-capped PLLA films, the advancing contact angle (thetaa) with water was measured. The amorphous PLLA films showed relatively similar thetaa values regardless of the chemical structure of the polymer chain end. In contrast, the thetaa values of semicrystalline films were varied over a wide range, dependent on the chemical structure of the chain end. In addition, the thetaa values of dodecyl ester end-capped PLLA film with low molecular weight increased with an increase in the crystallization temperature. Both the crystallinity and lamellar thickness of dodecyl ester end-capped PLLA films increased with the crystallization temperature. These results suggest that the segregation of the chain ends on the PLLA film surface was strongly affected by the crystallization conditions.     

Poly(organo phosphazene) nanoparticles surface modified with poly(ethylene oxide)

The use of biodegradable derivatives of poly(organo phosphazenes) for the preparation of nanoparticles and their surface modification with the novel poly(ethylene oxide) derivative of poly(organo phosphazene) has been assessed using a range of in vitro characterization methods. The nanoparticles were produced by the precipitation solvent evaporation method from the derivative co-substituted with phenylalanine and glycine ethyl ester side groups. A reduction in particle size to less than 200 nm was achieved by an increase in pH of the preparation medium. The formation (and colloidal stability) of these nanoparticles seems to be controlled by two opposite effects: attractive hydrophobic interactions between phenylalanine ester groups and electrostatic repulsions arising from the carboxyl groups formed due to (partial) hydrolysis of the ester bond(s) at the high pH of the preparation medium. The poly[(glycine ethyl ester)phosphazene] derivative containing 5000-Da poly(ethylene oxide) as 5% of the side groups was used for the surface modification of nanoparticles. Adsorbed onto the particles, the polymer produced a thick coating layer of approximately 35 nm. The coated nanoparticles exhibited reduced surface negative potential and improved colloidal stability toward electrolyte-induced flocculation, relative to the uncoated system. However, the steric stabilization provided was less effective than that of a Poloxamine 908 coating. This difference in effectiveness of the steric stabilization might indicate that, although both the stabilizing polymers possess a 5000-Da poly(ethylene oxide) moiety, there is a difference in the arrangements of these poly(ethylene oxide) chains at the particle surface. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis, physicochemical properties, and preliminary biological characterizations of a novel amphoteric agmatine-based poly(amidoamine) with RGD-like repeating units

A linear, amphoteric poly(amidoamine) nicknamed AGMA1, based on 4-aminobutylguanidine, or agmatine, was successfully prepared by Michael-type polyaddition of monoprotonated agmatine and 2,2-bis(acrylamido)acetic acid (BAC). Copolymers between AGMA1 and the biocompatible poly(amidoamine) ISA23 (deriving from the polyaddition of 2-methylpiperazine with BAC) were also prepared. Acid-base titrations gave for AGMA1 three acid dissociation constants, with pKa values of 2.25, 7.45, and >or=12.1, corresponding to a strong acid, a medium-weak base, and a strong base, respectively. The charge distribution profiles show that this polymer is prevailingly cationic at all physiological pH values, the positive net average charge per unit varying from about 0.5 at pH 7.4 to about 1.0 at pH 5, with an isoelectric point at pH approximately 10. Zeta-potential measurements confirmed this. Despite that, AGMA1 is nontoxic and nonhemolytic in vitro within all pH ranges tested (4-7.5). This is in contrast with the previously observed behavior of amphoteric PAAs, for instance ISA23, that are weakly hemolytic at pH 7.4 but highly hemolytic at pH 5/5.5. The lack of hemolytic activity of AGMA1 even at acidic pH values seems typical of the agmatine-BAC sequences and may be ascribed to their RGD-like structure. In fact, AGMA1-ISA23 copolymers behave in a way increasingly similar to that of ISA23; that is, they become hemolytic at low pH values as their ISA23 content increases.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and biological properties of vanadium(IV)-hydrazide complexes

The synthesis, spectroscopic, enzyme-inhibition, and free-radical-scavenging properties of a series of vanadium(IV) complexes, compounds 1-10, were investigated. These complexes exhibit a dimeric structure with hydrazide ligands coordinated in a bidentate fashion. All complexes are stable in the solid state, but exhibit varying degrees of stability in solution. In coordinating solvent such as DMSO, stepwise binding of two solvent molecules at the 6th positions trans to the V double bond O bond of the dimeric unit is observed. The dimeric compounds are converted to monomeric species in which both solvent molecules and the hydrazide ligands are coordinated to the V(IV) center. The free hydrazide ligands 11-20 were inactive against alpha-glucosidase, but the V(IV) complexes showed varying degrees of inhibition, depending on the type of ligand. The DPPH-radical-scavenging activities of 1-20 were determined, which indicated that steric and/or electronic effects responsible for changes in geometry play important roles in terms of antioxidant potential.     

Synthesis,characterization, and preliminary biological study of poly(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)

Poly(3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) has been synthesized and characterized by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The polymer is a chemically amplified photoresist. Arrays of lines with 25 microm width and 25 microm spacing were successfully patterned with this polymer by photolithography. Rat fibroblast cells were seeded on these patterned surfaces as well as the smooth glass surface. Phase contrast microscopy showed that cells on the patterned surfaces were strongly aligned and elongated along the grooves as compared to randomly spreading on the smooth surface. Since controlling cell orientation is critical for the development of advanced forms of tissue repair and cell engineering therapies, for example, peripheral nerve repair, production of tendon and ligament substitutes in vitro, and control of microvascular repair, the described polymer may be useful for applications in tissue reconstruction.     

Synthesis, characterization, properties, and drug release of poly(alkyl methacrylate-b-isobutylene-b-alkyl methacrylate)

Polyisobutylene (PIB)-based block copolymers have attracted significant interest as biomaterials. Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) has been shown to be vascularly compatible and, when loaded with paclitaxel (PTx) and coated on a coronary stent, has the ability to deliver the drug directly to arterial walls. Modulation of drug release from this polymer has been achieved by varying the drug/polymer ratio, by blending SIBS with other polymers, and by derivatizing the styrene end blocks to vary the hydrophilicity of the copolymer. In this paper, results are reported on the synthesis, physical properties, and drug elution profile of PIB-based block copolymers containing methacrylate end blocks. The preparation of PIB-poly(alkyl methacrylate) block copolymers has been accomplished by a new synthetic methodology using living cationic and anionic polymerization techniques. 1,1-Diphenylethylene end-functionalized PIB was prepared from the reaction of living PIB and 1,4-bis(1-phenylethenyl)benzene, followed by the methylation of the resulting diphenyl carbenium ion with dimethylzinc (Zn(CH(3))(2)). PIB-DPE was quantitatively metalated with n-butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran, and the resulting macroinitiator could initiate the polymerization of methacrylate monomers, yielding block copolymers with high blocking efficiency. Poly(methyl methacrylate-b-isobutylene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PIB-b-PMMA) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-b-isobutylene-b-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-b-PIB-b-PHEMA) triblock copolymers were synthesized and used as drug delivery matrixes for coatings on coronary stents. The PMMA-b-PIB-b-PMMA/PTx system displayed zero-order drug release, while stents coated with PHEMA-b-PIB-b-PHEMA/PTx formulations exhibited a significant initial burst release of PTx. Physical characterization using atomic force microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry of the formulated PMMA-b-PIB-b-PMMA coating matrix indicated the partial miscibility of PTx with the PMMA microphase of the matrix.     

Synthesis and biological activity of [Tic] didemnin B

A didemnin B analog containing a Tic (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) as a conformationally restrained replacement for tyrosine has been synthesized and shown to have comparable potency as a protein biosynthesis inhibitor. Synthetic highlights include an oxidation of an alcohol to an acid in the presence of the sensitive Tic heterocycle and a modified Schmidt-type one-pot macrocyclization.     

Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of oxovanadium(IV) complexes with polyalcohols

Oxovanadium(IV) complexes of the polyalcohols sorbitol, galactitol, and mannitol, of stoichiometry Na(2)[VO(L)(2)].H(2)O, were obtained from aqueous alkaline solutions. They were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and UV-vis spectroscopies, thermoanalytical (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis) data, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The biological activities of the complexes on the proliferation, differentiation, and glucose consumption were tested on osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3E1 osteoblastic mouse calvaria-derived cells and UMR106 rat osteosarcoma-derived cells) in culture. The three complexes exerted a biphasic effect on cell proliferation, being slight stimulating agents at low concentrations and inhibitory in the range of 25-100 microM. All the complexes inhibited cell differentiation in tumor osteoblasts. Their effects on glucose consumption were also discussed. The free ligands did not show any effect on the studied biological parameters.     

Physicochemical and biological properties of poly(ethylene glycol)-coupled immunoglobulin G

In order to develop a new intravenous immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG was covalently coupled to poly(ethylene glycol) previously activated by cyanuric chloride. The poly(ethylene glycol) coupled IgG obtained was studied for physicochemical and biological properties such as molecular structure, size-exclusion chromatographic behaviour, surface activity, interfacial aggregability, heat aggregability inducing nonspecific complement activation, and antigen-binding activity. The poly(ethylene glycol) coupling to IgG increased the apparent Stokes' radius and the surface activity of IgG and stabilized IgG on heating and/or on exposure to interface, while no structural denaturation of IgG was observed. The suppressed nonspecific aggregability was interpreted mainly by difficulty in association between the modified IgG molecules. These results indicated the use of the poly(ethylene glycol)-coupled IgG as an intravenous preparation and also as an additive stabilizing intact IgG for intravenous use.     

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of trans-platinum(II) complexes with chloroquine

Three platinum-chloroquine complexes, trans-Pt(CQDP)₂(I)₂ [1], trans-Pt(CQDP)₂(Cl)₂ [2] and trans-Pt(CQ)₂(Cl)₂ [3], were prepared and their most probable structure was established through a combination of spectroscopic analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Their interaction with DNA was studied and their activity against 6 tumor cell lines was evaluated. Compounds 1 and 2 interact with DNA primarily through electrostatic contacts and hydrogen bonding, with a minor contribution of a covalent interaction, while compound 3 binds to DNA predominantly in a covalent fashion, with weaker secondary electrostatic interactions and possibly hydrogen bonding, this complex also exerted greater cytotoxic activity against the tumor cell lines.     

Unusual properties of glycuronans [poly(glycosyluronic) compounds]

2-Methyl-[3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-α-d-glucopyrano]-[2,1-d]-2-oxazoline (4) was prepared from 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-α-d- glucopyranosyl chloride. Condensation of 3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannose dimethyl acetal with 4 in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid afforded O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-O-(2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 2)-3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannose dimethyl acetal (6) in 8.6% yield. Catalytic deacetylation of 6 with sodium methoxide, followed by hydrolysis with dilute sulfuric acid, gave O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 2)-d-mannose (7). The inhibitory activities of 7 and related sugars against the hemagglutinating activities of various lectins were assayed, and 7 was found to be a good inhibitor against Phaseolus vulgaris hemagglutinin.     

Synthesis and biological properties of ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)

The 41-residue sequence of recently identified ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was assembled on a benzhydrylamine resin support. Deprotection and cleavage from the resin were accomplished by HF treatment. The crude peptide was purified by gel filtration and reverse-phase, medium pressure, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition to the usual criteria, the homogeneity of the final material, obtained in 7% yield, was assessed by the isolation and examination of cyanogen bromide cleavage and tryptic digestion fragments by HPLC and amino acid analysis. The synthetic 41 amino acid CRF stimulated the release of corticotropin (ACTH) in three in vitro systems: isolated rat pituitary quarters, monolayer cultures of dispersed pituitary cells, and superfused pituitary cells on a column, the responses being related to the log-dose of CRF in the range of 0.05-125 ng/ml. The synthetic peptide also augmented in vivo release of ACTH in rats pretreated with chlorpromazine, morphine, and Nembutal, as assessed by the measurement of serum corticosterone. The data indicates chemical purity and high biological activity of synthetic material.     

Synthesis and characterization of sodium cis-dichlorochenodeoxycholylglycinato(O,N) platinum(II)--cytostatic activity.

With a view to using bile acids as shuttles for delivering platinum-related cytostatic drugs to liver tumors, a chenodeoxycholylglycinato(CDCG)-derivative of platinum(II) has been synthesized. The complex--named Bamet-M2--was chemically characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, FAB-MS, and UV spectroscopy. The results indicate the following composition: C26H42N2O5Cl2NaPt(II), the metal Pt(II) being bound to two Cl- and one bidentate CDCG moiety, i.e., Na[Pt CDCG(N,O) Cl2]. The compound is highly soluble (up to 20 mM) in water and (up to 35 mM) in ethanol, methanol and DMSO. Hydrolysis was investigated because this is assumed to be an important step in intracellular activation and interaction with DNA of this type of compounds. The reaction kinetics of this complex in aqueous solution show unusual behaviour; the substitution process with the displacement of two Cl- was almost instantaneous, and the resulting species were found to be very stable. Kinetic studies carried out in the presence of different NaCl concentrations (up to 500 mM) revealed similar fast and nonreversible aquations of Bamet-M2. This contrasts with the slow aquation of cisplatin in extracellular-line solutions (i.e., at high NaCl concentrations) as compared with fast hydrolysis in cells. This difference may partly account for the low cytostatic activity observed here for Bamet-M2 against several tumor cell-lines.     

Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding study and biological activity against Leishmania mexicana of [Cu(dppz)2]BF4

[Cu(dppz)(2)]BF(4) complex has been synthesized by the reaction of [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]BF(4) and dipyrido[3,2-A:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) in a molar ratio of 1:2. The compound was characterized by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies. Absorption and viscometric studies carried out on the interaction of [Cu(dppz)(2)]BF(4) complex with calf thymus DNA suggested that the complex binds by intercalation. No covalent binding was observed. Additionally, the results obtained from electrophoresis showed nuclease activity. The biological activity of the complex was tested in vitro on Leishmania mexicana promastigote cultures. A leishmanicidal effect (LD(30)) was observed in 48 h at concentration of 41 nM. Preliminary studies of the ultrastructure of L. mexicana treated with a sublethal dose of the complex (IC(7)=4.1 nM) for 48 h showed an induction of cytoplasm disorganization, vacuolization and binucleated cells. These findings suggest that the leishmanicidal activity of the title complex could be associated with its interaction with the parasitic DNA.     

Synthesis, potentiometric titration, electrochemical investigation and biological properties of trans-[RuCl2(dinic)4] (dinic = 3,5-pyridinecarboxylic acid)

This work discusses both the synthesis of trans-[RuCl2(dinic)4], dinic = 3,5-pyridinecarboxylic acid, and its main characteristics including potentiometric titration, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties, and some biological properties. The complex was synthesized using ruthenium blue solution as the precursor in a synthetic route. The complex was characterized using electronic spectroscopy, vibrational FT-IR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, as well as 1H and 13C NMR. The results indicated that the complex exhibits a trans-geometry. Cyclic voltammetry carried out in water:acetone 1:1 solution revealed a quasi-reversible process centered on the Ru(II) atom, as well as a dependence of the redox potential, E1/2, on pH. An analysis of the electronic spectra revealed that the MLCT (metal ligand charge transfer) band underwent a hypsochromic shift as the pH increased. Spectroelectrochemical analysis indicated that the visible region band progressively faded out upon oxidation. The equilibrium constants for the eight protons of the complex were determined by potentiometric titration. The complex neither inhibits the activity of nitrogen monoxide synthase nor acts as a scavenger for nitrogen monoxide. Nevertheless, the complex shows antinociceptive properties and acts as a scavenger for hydroxyl radicals.