Smart Polymeric Nanocarriers of Met-enkephalin

Abstract

This study describes a novel approach to polymeric nanocarriers of the therapeutic peptide met-enkephalin based on the aggregation of thermoresponsive polymers. Thermoresponsive bioconjugate poly((di(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-ran-(oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate) is synthesized by AGET ATRP using modified met-enkephalin as a macroinitiator. The abrupt heating of bioconjugate water solution leads to the self-assembly of bioconjugate chains and the formation of mesoglobules of controlled sizes. Mesoglobules formed by bioconjugates are stabilized by coating with cross-linked two-layer shell via nucleated radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide using a degradable cross-linker. The targeting peptide RGD, containing the fluorescence marker carboxyfluorescein, is linked to a nanocarrier during the formation of the outer shell layer. In the presence of glutathione, the whole shell is completely degradable and the met-enkephalin conjugate is released. It is anticipated that precisely engineered nanoparticles protecting their cargo will emerge as the next-generation platform for cancer therapy and many other biomedical applications.

Thermoresponsive P(HEMA-co-OEGMA) copolymers: synthesis, characteristics and solution behavior

“…They could, then, be stabilized for use as nanocarriers as we have described before. [45][46][47][48] The synthesis was carried out using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in a binary DMSO/H 2 O solvent system. The water solution behavior of P(HEMA-co-OEGMA) with various compositions was studied and compared to determine the impact of HEMA on the thermoresponsive behavior of copolymers and to determine the relationship between the composition of copolymers and the T cp .…”

Cancer cell metabolism resulting in multidrug resistance to chemotherapy and possible ways out

“…Bioconjugation consists of linking two molecules, usually through a covalent bond, and at least one molecule should be of biological origin. 64 Alternatively, they can be peptides, 65,66 glycoproteins, 67 aptamers, 68,69 or interferons, 70 etc. ; all these have anticancer properties.…”

Present Scenario of Bioconjugates in Cancer Therapy: A Review

“…The targeting peptide RGD was also linked on the surface of the nanocarrier, which bound to integrin receptors overexpressed on cancer cells. However, this study focused on the utilization of the thermoresponsive polymer, and in vivo and in vitro studies are required to check its efficacy against cancer [17]. Subsequently, proteins conjugated with polymers have also been used as bioconjugates for cancer therapy.…”

“…In the case of cancer therapeutic agents, these biologically originated molecules used for conjugation are primarily the ligands that target tumor-specific antigens [14,15]. Alternatively, they can be peptides [16,17], glycoproteins [18], aptamers [19,20], or interferons [21], etc. ; these all have anticancerous properties.…”