Recent Advances in Preclinical Research Using PAMAM Dendrimers for Cancer Gene Therapy

Carriers of genetic material are divided into vectors of viral and non-viral origin. Viral carriers are already successfully used in experimental gene therapies, but despite advantages such as their high transfection efficiency and the wide knowledge of their practical potential, the remaining disadvantages, namely, their low capacity and complex manufacturing process, based on biological systems, are major limitations prior to their broad implementation in the clinical setting. The application of non-viral carriers in gene therapy is one of the available approaches. Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are repetitively branched, three-dimensional molecules, made of amide and amine subunits, possessing unique physiochemical properties. Surface and internal modifications improve their physicochemical properties, enabling the increase in cellular specificity and transfection efficiency and a reduction in cytotoxicity toward healthy cells. During the last 10 years of research on PAMAM dendrimers, three modification strategies have commonly been used: (1) surface modification with functional groups; (2) hybrid vector formation; (3) creation of supramolecular self-assemblies. This review describes and summarizes recent studies exploring the development of PAMAM dendrimers in anticancer gene therapies, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of the modification approaches and the nanomedicine regulatory issues preventing their translation into the clinical setting, and highlighting important areas for further development and possible steps that seem promising in terms of development of PAMAM as a carrier of genetic material.     

Dendrimer as nanocarrier for drug delivery

Dendrimers are novel three dimensional, hyperbranched globular nanopolymeric architectures. Attractive features like nanoscopic size, narrow polydispersity index, excellent control over molecular structure, availability of multiple functional groups at the periphery and cavities in the interior distinguish them amongst the available polymers. Applications of dendrimers in a large variety of fields have been explored. Drug delivery scientists are especially enthusiastic about possible utility of dendrimers as drug delivery tool. Terminal functionalities provide a platform for conjugation of the drug and targeting moieties. In addition, these peripheral functional groups can be employed to tailor-make the properties of dendrimers, enhancing their versatility. The present review highlights the contribution of dendrimers in the field of nanotechnology with intent to aid the researchers in exploring dendrimers in the field of drug delivery.     

Improved tumor targetability of Tat-conjugated PAMAM dendrimers as a novel nanosized anti-tumor drug carrier

The generation 4-poly-amidoamine-dendrimers (PAMAM G4 dendrimer, P) was conjugated to Tat peptide (Tat, T), a cell-penetrating peptide, in search of an efficient anti-tumor drug delivery vehicle for cancer therapy. In this study, we synthesized BODIPY-labeled Tat-Conjugated PAMAM dendrimers (BPTs) as a novel nanosized anticancer drug carriers and systemically investigated their biodistribution and the tumor accumulation in Sarcoma 180-bearing mice. In addition, the uptake and the cytotoxicity to S180 cells of BPTs thereof were evaluated. The unmodified dendrimer (BP) showed a soon clearance from the blood stream and nonspecific accumulation in tumor. In contrast, the Tat-modified dendrimer, BPT(64) with appropriate particle size showed a better retention in blood and could be accumulated effectively in tumor tissue via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Moreover, BPTs with a high Tat modification rate was accumulated more effectively in tumor tissue. In vitro experiments, these BPTs displayed low cytotoxicity on S180 cells and high uptake to S180 cells. These findings indicate that the nanoparticulate system on the basis of Tat-conjugated PAMAM dendrimers is safer and effective in the concentration range (below 20?μg/ml) to be used as a carrier of anti-tumor drugs for tumor targeting by intravenous administration.     

Synergistic inhibition of human glioma cell line by temozolomide and PAMAM‐mediated miR‐21i

Temozolomide (TMZ) is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for treating glioblastomas. However, resistance develops quickly and with a high frequency. Efforts to overcome chemoresistance are, therefore, critically needed. In present study, a poly(amidoamine; PAMAM) dendrimer was used as a vector to deliver microRNA‐21 inhibitor (miR‐21i) into U87 cells and the chemosensitivity of the combination effect of miR‐21i and TMZ for glioma therapy was investigated. Flow cytometry analysis showed the uptake efficiency of microRNA‐21 inhibitor after complexation with PAMAM. Real‐time PCR and in situ hybridization indicated that, compared with TMZ or miR‐21i treated cells, cells simultaneously treated with miR‐21i and TMZ showed a remarkable decrease in the microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) level. The transfection of miR‐21i enhanced the chemosensitivity by significantly decreasing the IC50 value of TMZ to glioma cells. Knockdown of miR‐21 promoted the cells' apoptosis, and at the same time, inhibited cell invasion. In conclusion, the combination treatment of glioma cells with TMZ and miR‐21i could yield a synergistic effect in inhibition of human glioma cell line. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

以聚酰胺-胺树形分子为模板制备AgI纳米簇

本文以聚酰胺-胺(PAMAM)树形分子为模板,原位制备AgI纳米簇.系统地研究了AgI纳米簇制备过程中各种反应条件如树形分子端基、反应时间、Ag 与PAMAM摩尔比等对AgI纳米簇粒径的影响,分别用紫外-可见光谱、荧光光谱、透射电镜等对所制备的纳米簇进行表征.在相同的条件下,以G4.5-COOH3为模板较以G5.0-NH2为模板制备的AgI纳米簇粒径小、分布均匀,这主要取决于G4.5-COOCH3PAMAM树形分子所起的“内模板”作用.G4·5-COOH3树形分子浓度为1×10-5mol/L,Ag 与树形分子摩尔比为30∶1时所制备的AgI纳米簇的粒径分布均匀、稳定性好,室温避光可稳定存在两个月以上.     

PAMAM树形分子影响CaCO3结晶的机理研究

研究了不同端基的聚酰胺胺(PAMAM)树形分子以及CH3COONa,PAANa对CaCO3在水溶液中结晶的影响,分析了PAMAM树形分子影响CaCO3结晶体机理.研究表明,含-COONa端基的PA-MAM树形分子在CaCO3的结晶过程中与Ca2 发生络合,形成由Ca-O键连接的络合物,Ca2 在进入晶格时由于受到树形分子空间位阻的作用只能按照霰石的形式进行排列.含-COONa端基的PAMAM树形分子起到了晶体改性剂和结晶抑制剂的作用.     

Mechanism of Anticancer Action of Novel Imidazole Platinum(II) Complex Conjugated with G2 PAMAM-OH Dendrimer in Breast Cancer Cells

Transition metal coordination compounds play an important role in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. However, due to their low selectivity and bioavailability, as well as the frequently occurring phenomenon of drug resistance, new chemical compounds that could overcome these phenomena are still being sought. The solution seems to be the synthesis of new metal complexes conjugated with drug carriers, e.g., dendrimers. Numerous literature data have shown that dendrimers improve the bioavailability of the obtained metal complexes, solving the problem of their poor solubility and stability in an aqueous environment and also breaking down inborn and acquired drug resistance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize a novel imidazole platinum(II) complex conjugated with and without the second-generation PAMAM dendrimer (PtMet2–PAMAM and PtMet2, respectively) and to evaluate its antitumor activity. Cell viability studies indicated that PtMet2–PAMAM exhibited higher cytotoxic activity than PtMet2 in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at relatively low concentrations. Moreover, our results indicated that PtMet2–PAMAM exerted antiproliferative effects in a zebrafish embryo model. Treatment with PtMet2–PAMAM substantially increased apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner via caspase-9 (intrinsic pathway) and caspase-8 (extrinsic pathway) activation along with pro-apoptotic protein expression modulation. Additionally, we showed that apoptosis can be induced by activating POX, which induces ROS production. Furthermore, our results also clearly showed that the tested compounds trigger autophagy through p38 pathway activation and increase Beclin-1, LC3, AMPK, and mTOR inhibition. The high pro-apoptotic activity and the ability to activate autophagy by the imidazole platinum(II) complex conjugated with a dendrimer may be due to its demonstrated ability to reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) and thereby increase cellular accumulation in breast cancer cells.     

Synthesis and Characterization of MRI-Detectable Magnetic Dendritic Nanocarriers

Magnetic nanoparticles have been proposed for use as biomedical purposes to a large extent for several years. In this paper we discuss the preparation and characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with acetyled – PAMAM dendrimers(Ac-PAMAM). Also, in the present study, the conjugate (Ac-PAMAM)/SPIO nanoparticles were exhaustivly studied as controlled-release systems for parenteral administration of a model drug 5-aminosalicyclic acid (mesalamine) and analyzed using various release kinetic studies. The nanoparticles thus synthesized have been characterized by a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer and with X-ray diffraction. The morphology of these nanoparticles was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

钛合金在汽车轻量化中的应用

以SmCl3为原料，硼氢化钠为还原剂，低代（2．0G3．0G,4．0G）PAMAM树形分子为模板兼稳定剂、制备出纳米颗粒。实验发现，其他条件相同时，树形分子代数越高，所起的模板作用越显著，即Sm／4．0GPAMAM的复合纳米颗粒粒度均匀，分散度好。应用Virtual Materiale（VM）软件对Sm／PAMAM纳米颗粒进行分子动力学模拟。从分子结构和能量变化角度研究了正则（恒定的NVT）系中复合体系的稳定性及其机理。分子动力学模拟结果显示：4．0GPAMAM更适合于作为模板剂和稳定剂，表明动力学模拟结论与实验结果一致。