Multifunctional and thermoresponsive unimolecular micelles for tumor-targeted delivery and site-specifically release of anticancer drugs

Considering the fact that tumors have a lower pH value and a higher temperature than a normal tissue, a new type of thermoresponsive and biodegradable micelles, based on the H40-poly(?-caprolactone)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide)-fluorescein methyl ester/b′-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(ethylene glycol)-folate (i.e., H40-PCL-b-P(NIPAAm-co-AAm)-FL/b′-MPEG/PEG-FA (HPPNAP-FA)) with imaging and targeting moieties on the periphery were developed for the tumor-targeted delivery and temperature-induced site-specifically release of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. The amphiphilic HPPNAP-FA copolymer was able to self-assemble into unimolecular micelles in aqueous solution with an average diameter of 65 nm. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of micelles was around 39.5 °C. The anticancer drug, paclitaxel (PTX), was encapsulated into the multifunctional micelles. In vitro release studies demonstrated that the drug-loaded delivery system is relatively stable at physiologic conditions but susceptible to mild acidic environments and temperatures above LCST which would trigger the release of encapsulated drugs. Both flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy showed that the cellular uptake of the PTX-loaded HPPNAP-FA micelles is higher than that of the PTX-loaded HPPNAP because of the folate receptor mediated endocytosis. The efficacy of this thermoresponsive drug delivery system was also evaluated at temperatures above the LCST (40 °C); the results demonstrated that the cellular uptake and the cytotoxicity of PTX-loaded micelles increase prominently. These results indicate that these multifunctional and thermoresponsive unimolecular micelles are promising biomaterials to improve the delivery efficiency and cancer specificity of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs.     

Application of minimally invasive injectable conductive hydrogels as stimulating scaffolds for myocardial tissue engineering

So far, several methods for myocardial tissue engineering have been developed to regenerate myocardium and even create contractile heart muscles. Among these approaches, hydrogel based methods have attracted much attention due to their ability to mimic the architecture of native extracellular matrix. Injectable hydrogels are a specific class of hydrogels which can be formed in situ by physical and/or chemical crosslinking. Generally, using these hydrogels is more advantageous because they are minimally (less) invasive in comparison with open surgery. Moreover, with respect to the fact that ‘myocardium is a conductive tissue’, utilization of conductive polymers for myocardial tissue engineering has demonstrated promising results. Both the injectable hydrogels and conductive polymers have some merits and demerits, but studies show that using a combination of them has prominently enhanced regeneration of the myocardium. In this review, the focus is on injectable hydrogels, conductive polymers and injectable conductive hydrogels for myocardial tissue engineering. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Anticorrosion properties of smart coating based on polyaniline nanoparticles/epoxy-ester system

In this study, the anticorrosive effect of dodecylbenzenesulfonicacid-doped polyaniline nanoparticles [n-PANI (DBSA)] as a conductive polymer was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Initially, the n-PANI (DBSA) were successfully synthesized via inverse microemulsion polymerization leading to the spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter less than 30 nm. Two coating systems including 1 wt% n-PANI(DBSA) blended epoxy ester (n-PANI(DBSA)/EPE) and neat epoxy ester (EPE) were coated on the carbon steal substrate. The anticorrosion performance of the prepared coatings was studied using EIS measurement in 3.5% NaCl solution during 77 days. The experimental data was modeled using Zview software according to the appropriate equivalent circuit model. The results clearly showed the better corrosion protection of the n-PANI(DBSA)/EPE coating compared to the EPE coating. This behavior was attributed to the ability of n-PANI(DBSA) in releasing dopant anion when the corrosion process is initiated on the metal substrate emphasizing the smart protection of n-PANI(DBSA)/EPE coating. Accordingly, the released dopant anions along with the iron cations provide a secondary barrier layer, which passivates the substrate.     

Tensile fatigue behavior of polyamide 66 nanofiber yarns

Nanofiber yarns with twisted and continuous structures have potential applications in fabrication of complicated structures such as surgical suture yarns, artificial blood vessels, and tissue scaffolds. The objective of this article is to characterize the tensile fatigue behavior of continuous Polyamide 66 (PA66) nanofiber yarns produced by electrospinning with three different twist levels. Morphology and tensile properties of yarns were obtained under static tensile loading and after fatigue loading. Results showed that tensile properties and yarn diameter were dependent on the twist level. Yarns had nonlinear time‐independent stress–strain behavior under the monotonic loading rates between 10 and 50 mm/min. Applying cyclic loading also positively affected the tensile properties of nanofiber yarns and changed their stress–strain behavior. Fatigue loading increased the crystallinity and alignment of nanofibers within the yarn structure, which could be interpreted as improved tensile strength and elastic modulus. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1805–1811, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Morphology development and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester resin containing nanodiamonds

Unsaturated polyester/styrene (UP ) resin was filled with nanodiamonds (NDs ) containing carboxyl and methacrylate functionalities using mechanical mixing. Field emission SEM exhibited a uniform dispersion of tightly bound aggregates of nanosized spherical NDs with good interfacial interaction. Rheological measurements exhibited a step increment in the shear viscosity of a UP /ND suspension at 0.6 wt% ND resembling a percolation state at this loading. Shear viscosity data supported by dynamic mechanical analysis results suggested the development of effective ND particles in which ND aggregates were covered by only polyester macromolecules. Accordingly, the morphology of UP /ND composites approached a quasi‐percolation state at 0.6 wt% in which effective ND particles were connected thoroughly, instead of direct ND ?ND contact, forming a co‐continuous polyester phase covering the ND particles. Based on such morphology, DSC and Fourier transform infrared analysis suggested the development of heterogeneous microgels in cured UP resin containing NDs which in turn governed the overall mechanical properties of the composites. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Aligned electrospun sulfonated polyetheretherketone nanofiber based proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

In this study, electrospinning of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) at different degrees of sulfonation (DS) was investigated. The polymer solution concentration of 22 wt% was obtained to collect smooth fiber in nanoscale range of 112 to 131 nm at various conditions. SEM observations of SPEEK nanofibers showed the decrease of diameter with increasing DS from 74% to 81%, mainly due to the increase of electrical conductivity of polymer solution at higher DS. The increase of collecting speed from 20 to 305 m/min decreased the diameter of nanofibers slightly and improved their alignment. The presence of SO₃H groups in collected nanofibers was demonstrated with FT‐IR analysis. WAXD patterns of SPEEK nanofibers indicated featureless amorphous peak with no crystalline regions that was broaden at higher DS and aligned nanofibers. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of SPEEK nanofibers showed the through‐plane proton conductivity of fully hydrated nanofibrous membranes measured at room temperature were improved with DS. The proton conductivity of randomly oriented and aligned nanofibers were measured from 0.0098 to 0.0722 S/cm and from 0.0592 to 0.0907 S/cm, respectively. Aligned nanofibers exhibited more proton conductivity than randomly collected nanofibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:789–796, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Characterization of reinforcing effect of alumina nanoparticles on the novolac phenolic resin

Very fine alumina nanoparticles were loaded in novolac type phenolic resin (PF) using solution mixing method. The concentration of nanoalumina in PF was varied between 2.5 to 20 wt%. All the compounds were compression molded and then subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile, flexural, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests. SEM analysis showed that the nanoalumina were dispersed uniformly at low concentrations, however, at high concentrations, dispersion was suppressed leading to agglomerates in the composites. Mechanical testing revealed that the nanoalumina had a great influence on the strength and stiffness of PF resin particularly at concentrations below 5 wt%. However, at concentration above 5 wt%, the stress concentrations were developed because of the formation of big aggregates that results in strength reduction. Theoretical analyses based on Pukanszky and micromechanical models of tensile modulus revealed that strong interfacial interaction and thick interphase region around the alumina nanoparticles is formed. DMA results suggested that the nanoalumina increased the crosslinking density of the PF resin, possibly around the interface region. It was also postulated that an apparent percolation state is established above 5 wt% loading of nanoalumina in which interphase region comes to contact before direct contact of particle leading to continuous interphase region. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1285–1293, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers