Electron spin resonance spectra of nitroxyl radicals: application to intermediates in in situ NMP polymerization of vinyl monomers

Poster (2009, December 14)

Superhydrophobic surfaces by electrospinning of polymer mixtures

Poster (2009, December 14)

Functionalized polypropylenes as efficient dispersing agents for carbon nanotubes in a polypropylene matrix; application to electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorber materials

Poster (2009, December 14)

Cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) and coupling reaction (CMRC): mechanistic advances ans synthetic opportunities

Poster (2009, December 14)

Cross-linked pH sensitive polymer micelles for drug delivery systems

Poster (2009, December 08)

Over the last decade, polymer micelles attracted an increasing interest in drug pharmaceutical research because they could be used as efficient drug delivery systems. Micelles of amphiphilic block ... [more ▼]

Over the last decade, polymer micelles attracted an increasing interest in drug pharmaceutical research because they could be used as efficient drug delivery systems. Micelles of amphiphilic block copolymers are supramolecular core-shell type assemblies of tens of nanometers in diameter. In principle, the micelles core is usually constructed with biodegradable hydrophobic polymers such as aliphatic polyesters, e.g. poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), which serves as a reservoir for the incorporation of various lipophilic drugs. Water soluble poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is most frequently used to build the micelle corona because it is very efficient in preventing protein adsorption at surfaces and in stabilizing the micelles in the blood compartment, giving rise to particles invisible to the body defence system (so-called stealthy or long circulating particles). The tumour targeting of a cytotoxic agent refers to the passive accumulation of polymer nanocarriers to solid tumours (EPR effect) followed by active internalization in tumor cells. The internalization of the drug is required for cell death because most cytotoxic drugs act intracellularly. Accordingly, polymer micelles are usually modified by specific ligands. No-specific ligands can be used if their exposition is modulated by the pH decrease typical of tumour tissues. The release of the drug is ruled by diffusion and degradation of the biodegradable polymer used as reservoir. Even if micelles get a high stability in aqueous media thanks to their low critical micellar concentration, the dissociation of micelles is not always preserved when they are injected in the blood compartment. The cross-linking of the core of micelles by disulfide bridges will provide the stability of micelles after the administration and will release the drugs intracellularly by enzymatic breaking of disulfide bridges. This work consists in the development of new macromolecular architectures for the targeting of tumour cells. pH sensitive copolymers able to micellize so as non-specific ligand like biotin is exposed on their surface in response to pH decrease typical for tumour tissues will be synthesized by the incorporation of pH-sensitive linkers, e.g. imine benzoïc linkers. In addition, the core of these new micelles will be cross-linked by disulfide bridges to prevent dissociation around healthy cells and trigger the drug release inside tumour cells. [less ▲]

How can cobalt complexes help synthetic polymer chemists?"

Conference (2009, December 07)

Targeting of tumor endothelium by RGD-grafted PLGA-nanoparticles loaded with Paclitaxel

in Journal of Controlled Release (2009), 140(2), 166-173

Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded PEGylated PLGA-based nanoparticles (NP) have been previously described as more effective in vitro and in vivo than Taxol®. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that our ... [more ▼]

Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded PEGylated PLGA-based nanoparticles (NP) have been previously described as more effective in vitro and in vivo than Taxol®. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that our PEGylated PLGA-based nanoparticles grafted with the RGD peptide or RGD-peptidomimetic (RGDp) would target the tumor endothelium and would further enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of PTX. The ligands were grafted on the PEG chain of PCL-b-PEG included in the nanoparticles. We observed in vitro that RGD-grafted nanoparticles were more associated to Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVEC) by binding to αvβ3 integrin than non-targeted nanoparticles. Doxorubicin was also used to confirm the findings observed for PTX. In vivo, we demonstrated the targeting of RGD and RGDp-grafted nanoparticles to tumor vessels as well as the effective retardation of TLT tumor growth and prolonged survival times of mice treated by PTX-loaded RGD-nanoparticles when compared to non-targeted nanoparticles. Hence, the targeting of anti-cancer drug to tumor endothelium by RGD-labeled NP is a promising approach. [less ▲]

Joining efforts of nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) and cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) for the preparation of novel ABC triblock Copolymers

in Macromolecules (2009), 42(22), 8604-8607

Novel pH-responsive copolymers for smart drug carriers

Conference (2009, November 18)

From cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) to cobalt-mediated radical coupling (CMRC): a unique strategy for the preparation of novel precise polymer architectures

Conference (2009, November 18)