Adjuvant properties of a biocompatible thermo-responsive polymer of N-isopropylacrylamide in autoimmunity and arthritis

To evaluate the thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) polymer as an adjuvant, we synthesized PNiPAAm through free radical polymerization and characterized it both in vitro and in vivo. The polymer when mixed with collagen type II (CII) induced antigen-specific autoimmunity and arthritis. Mice immunized with PNiPAAm–CII developed significant levels of CII-specific IgG response comprising major IgG subclasses. Antigen-specific cellular recall response was also enhanced in these mice, while negligible level of IFN-γ was detected in splenocyte cultures, in vitro. PNiPAAm–CII-immunized arthritic mouse paws showed massive infiltration of immune cells and extensive damage to cartilage and bone. As determined by immunostaining, most of the CII protein retained its native configuration after injecting it with PNiPAAm in naive mice. Physical adsorption of CII and the high-molecular-weight form of moderately hydrophobic PNiPAAm induced a significant anti-CII antibody response. Similar to CII, mice immunized with PNiPAAm and ovalbumin (PNiPAAm–Ova) induced significant anti-ovalbumin antibody response. Comparable levels of serum IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-17 were observed in ovalbumin-immunized mice with complete Freund, incomplete Freund (CFA and IFA) or PNiPAAm adjuvants. However, serum IL-4 levels were significantly higher in PNiPAAm–Ova and CFA–Ova groups compared with the IFA–Ova group. Thus, we show for the first time, biocompatible and biodegradable thermo-responsive PNiPAAm can be used as an adjuvant in several immunological applications as well as in better understanding of the autoimmune responses against self-proteins.     

新型温敏性中空纤维膜的制备与表征

采用自由基聚合方法对中空纤维膜（hollow fiber membranes,HFMs）进行了N-异丙基丙烯酰胺（NIPAAm）的接枝聚合,制备了一系列PNIPAAm-g-HFMs,同时考察了成纤维细胞在PNIPAAm-g-HFMs表面的培养与降温脱附情况。傅里叶红外光谱和元素分析结果表明PNIPAAm成功地在中空纤维膜上接枝聚合。动态接触角分析结果显示,当温度降至LCST以下,PNIPAAm-g-HFMs表面接触角明显降低;蛋白黏附测定结果进一步证实了当温度发生改变时,PNIPAAm-g-HFMs表面呈现亲疏水性质变化,即具有温敏性。37℃时,成纤维细胞在HFMs-0.005,HFMs-0.01和HFMs-0.05表面均能正常黏附、铺展与增殖;而HFMs-0.2不适宜细胞的黏附与生长。降温孵育后,黏附于PNIPAAm-g-HFMs表面的细胞发生明显的形态变化并从其表面发生脱附,细胞脱附率高达90%以上。以上实验结果表明,PNIPAAm-g-HFMs具有良好的温敏性,可实现细胞的降温脱附,可与生物反应器相结合用于贴壁型细胞的大规模扩增与降温收获。     

Rheological properties of novel thermo-responsive polycarbonates aqueous solutions

Thermo-responsive multiblock polycarbonates were facilely synthesized by covalently binding poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) and poly(propylene glycol)(PPG) blocks,using triphosgene as coupling agent and pyridine as catalyst.The aqueous solutions of thermo-responsive polycarbonates were investigated by rheological measurements.Steady-state shear measurements reveal that the polycarbonate solutions exhibit shear-thinning behavior and the hydrophilic content has a pronounced effect on the flow behavior of the polycarbonates aqueous solutions.The shear viscosity decreases with increasing poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) composition.The increase of viscosity with increasing concentration is probably attributed to the formation of stronger network owing to interchain entanglement of PEO block at higher concentration.When the flow curves are fitted to the power law model,flow index is obtained to be less than 1,as exhibiting typical pesudoplastic fluid.The viscoelastic properties of the system also show close dependence on the composition of polycarbonates.Temperature sweep confirms that the multiblock polycarbonates exhibit thermo-responsive properties.For 7% aqueous solution of polycarbonate with composition ratio of EO to PO of 1/1,the sol-gel transition occurs at 37 ℃,which makes the system suitable as an injectable drug delivery system.     

The Microstructure and Gelling Mechanism of Thermo-responsive Chitosan Hydrogel System

Thermo-respansive chitosan hydrogel system （TRCHS） was prepared and its mierostructure was investigated by scaning electron microscope （SEM） and mercury intrusion poremaster （MIP）. Based on analyzing the data, a special porosity property was reported at the first time. Its gelling mechanism was studied by a group of contrast experiments. Results may provide experimental and theoretical supports for how to apply it on tissue engineering scaffold and how to influeuee or control its essential properties.     

基于壳聚糖/银离子的可逆温敏水凝胶的制备与性能

以壳聚糖(CS)和Ag NO₃为主要原料,通过CS与Ag⁺的超分子络合作用制备了一系列可逆温敏CS-Ag水凝胶,采用FTIR、XRD、XPS、SEM和EDS对CS-Ag水凝胶的结构和化学状态进行了表征。结果表明,通过同时调节Ag NO₃用量和体系p H可制备具有相同凝胶温度的CS-Ag水凝胶。当CS用量为0.60 g、Ag NO₃用量为0.19 g、体系总体积为21 m L、保持水凝胶p H=4.24时,制备的CS-Ag-19水凝胶凝胶温度为50℃,具有最佳的热可逆性能,至少可循环相变5次,具有室温避光保存5个月的稳定性,并表现出对大肠杆菌良好的抗菌性能。CS-Ag-19的溶胶-凝胶转换是由CS的氨基在不同温度下的超分子相互作用控制,H⁺和Ag⁺在温度、浓度变化的驱动下,对游离氨基的竞争反应(质子化和络合作用)之间的平衡关系使水凝胶具有温敏可逆性。CS-Ag-19水凝胶的可注射和温敏凝胶性能使其具有作为水凝胶抗菌敷料的应用潜力。     

A Novel Drug Delivery System for Osteosarcoma Chemotherapy

1Introduction Osteosarcoma,35%ofhumanprimarybonecan cers,ishighlymalignantandtendstotransferandgrow permeantly.Chemotherapyisaneffectiveandbasicthera pyforosteosarcoma,buttheside effectofantineoplasticdrugslimitstheconcentrationofthemwhichinfluences thecu…     

天然纤维素均相接枝聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺及其温敏性研究

利用基于电子转移再生活性种的原子转移自由基聚合(AGET ATRP)将单体N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAAM)接枝到天然纤维素上制得纤维素接枝聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(cell-PNIPAAM)。FT-IR、1H-NMR和13C-NMR分析表明,成功合成了cell-PNIPAAM;凝胶渗透色谱分析表明,接枝率随反应体系中N,N-二甲基甲酰胺（DMF）体积比的减小而增大,该聚合物分子质量的多分散性在2.0左右,表明聚合反应在一定程度上是可控的;热重分析显示,聚合物的热稳定性相比于天然纤维素略为提高;TEM图片显示,聚合物在高于其最低临界相转变温度(约为34℃)时,聚合物与水相分离并呈球形结构,平均直径约为40 nm。     

智能膜开关尺寸与孔径的匹配性对膜响应性能的影响规律

智能膜的响应性能是其主要性能之一。本文借助计算流体力学（CFD）模拟,以孔壁排布有聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺（PNIPAM）智能微球的单直膜孔为模型,定量系统地考察了智能微球的响应倍数以及微球尺寸与膜孔径的匹配性对膜温度响应性能的影响规律,并通过实验验证了模拟结果的可靠性。CFD模拟结果表明,当智能开关与膜孔径的相对比值一定时,温度响应开关系数随着微球响应倍数的减小而逐渐增大。当相对比值小于0.4时,实测的温度响应开关系数与固载量100%的模拟结果相吻合;而当相对比值大于0.4时,其与固载量为67%的模拟结果相吻合。通常当相对比值在0.4～0.65之间时,智能膜可以同时获得良好的温度响应性能和稳定的渗透性能。该研究结果可望为设计和制备高性能智能膜提供理论指导和实验基础。