Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanogels Produced by Microfluidics-Facilitated Self-Assembly Improves the Safety Profile of the Cationic Host Defense Peptide Novicidin

Abstract

Formulation in nanogels could be a viable approach to improve the safety profile of host defence peptides.

Nanogels: An overview of properties, biomedical applications and obstacles to clinical translation

“…One of the challenges in the formation of nanogels by such polymers is a control over the particle size, which requires fine-tuning of the polymer concentrations or environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, and ionic strength. A study by Nielsen and co-workers has demonstrated that these challenges can be addressed by utilizing a microfluidics-based approach [33]. Overall, the advances in polymer chemistry led to the exceptional diversity and control over the composition, architecture and functionality of crosslinked nanogels, which in turn provide more flexibility to tune their properties to comply with targeted biomedical applications.…”

Nanomedicines for the Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs)

“…The nanogels exhibited good colloidal stability under different ionic strength conditions and allowed complete release of the peptide over 14 days. Furthermore, self-assembly of novicidin with hyaluronic acid into nanogels significantly improved the safety profile at least five-fold and six-fold when tested in HUVECs and NIH 3T3 cells, respectively, while showing no loss of antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus [96]. Li et al explored the potential application of AMPs in wound healing, by developing a biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid)-Pluronic L35-poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA-L35-PLLA) in situ gel-forming system [97].…”

Microfluidic Fabrication of Physically Assembled Nanogels and Micrometric Fibers by Using a Hyaluronic Acid Derivative

“…Nanogel size can be readily tuned by adjusting flow rate, solvent polarity, polymer composition, and concentration . Nanogels manufactured by microfluidics can be scaled up to enable large‐scale production . Microfluidics has been recognized also to be an efficient method to produce long‐meter fibers, useful for many applications in regenerative medicine or for drug delivery purposes .…”

“…Cell entrapment into microdevices is one of the most appealing and useful tool for cell‐based therapy and tissue engineering . Except the employ of alginate or other polysaccharides able of an ion coordination or salt sensitive crosslinking, only other few reports are found in the literature describing the use of microfluidic devices without using chemical cross linkers . Covalent crosslinking reactions are usually employed to reinforce structure of fibers and to fix their shape .…”