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Albumin has been viewed as one of the most attractive biomacromolecules for making nanoparticulate systems due to its biocompatibility and chemical functionality. Thus far, albumin nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by several limited methods, such as, desolvation, emulsification or high-pressure homogenization. In this article, we introduce a new albumin NPs prototype fabricated via a 'host' (β-cyclodextrin)-'guest' (adamantane) supramolecular association. These NPs (GC-CD/HSA-ADA NPs) consisted of β-cyclodextrin-modified glycol chitosan (GC-CD) and adamantane-conjugated human serum albumin (HSA-ADA) (GC-CD/HSA-ADA NPs) that were facilely prepared by a consequent dropwise mixing and sonication method. Doxorubicin-loaded GC-CD/HSA-ADA NPs exhibited an appropriate particle size (∼260nm), good physicochemical stability (∼48h), significant HCT116 cell cytotoxicity (IC50: 0.32μg/ml) and cell internalization. Furthermore, GC-CD/HSA-ADA NPs showed excellent tumor targetability probably due to gp60-mediated transcytosis mechanism because it was markedly accumulated in the tumor site of a HCT116 cell-xenograft mouse. Based on these results, these albumin NPs will be promising for a new NP platform that can be applied for cancer therapy or imaging., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation and collagen deposition, with an estimated mortality rate exceeding 70%. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effectiveness of inhaled tacrolimus-loaded chitosan-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (chitosan TAC PLGA-NPs) in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model. Chitosan TAC PLGA-NPs were fabricated using an o/w emulsification diffusion method, and uncoated TAC PLGA-NPs and chitosan TAC PLGA-NPs were spherical with approximate diameters of 320 and 441 nm, respectively. The zeta potential of chitosan TAC PLGA-NPs (+13.6 mV) was increased significantly by chitosan-coating versus uncoated TAC PLGA-NPs (-28.3 mV). The incorporation efficiency of tacrolimus was 37.7%, and the tacrolimus was gradually released until about 5 day. Direct inhalation of chitosan TAC PLGA-NPs (TAC 180 μg/mouse) twice a week produced marked anti-fibrotic efficacy in mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which was much better than the efficacy resulting from daily oral administration (TAC 300 μg/mouse) on the basis of hematoxylin/eosin and Masson's trichrome staining assessments. Imaging of lung deposition showed that chitosan TAC PLGA-NPs were located well in the lungs and gradually faded over 96 h. The pulmonary delivery of tacrolimus could be therapeutically efficacious for treating pulmonary fibrosis. TAC-loaded PLGA nanoparticles should be considered to be an efficient sustained-release type inhalation system that reduces administration frequency and relevant side effects., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we developed facile synthesis method of multilayered polysaccharidic vesicles (hereafter termed 'mPSVs') using polysaccharides such as starch, hyaluronate (HA), and glycol chitosan (GC) via simple chemistry and using enzymatic reactions among polysaccharides. The enzymatic degradation of the HA shell by hyaluronidase (HYAL) enzyme contributed to accelerate the release of protein/peptide from the mPSVs. The mPSVs containing folate ligand and apoptotic cell death-inducing D-(KLAKLAK)2 peptide were effectively accumulated in in vivo KB tumor cells, primarily owing to passive tumor penetration via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and active targeting via specific binding to folate receptors expressed on KB tumor cells. These mPSVs resulted in a significant increase in the in vivo tumor inhibition. This vesicle system is expected to exhibit great potential as an advanced platform technology for biomedical applications involving small molecular drugs with protein/gene targets., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Decanoic acid-modified glycol chitosan (DA-GC) hydrogels containing tightly adsorbed palmitic acid-modified exendin-4 (Ex4-C16) were prepared, and their pharmaceutical abilities as a long-acting sustained-release exendin-4 system for the treatment of diabetes were evaluated. Glycol chitosan (GC) was conjugated with N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated decanoic acid (DA) in anhydrous 0.4% dimethylaminopyridine/dimethylsulfoxide at different feed ratios. DA-GC hydrogels formed by physical self-assembly during dialysis vs. deionized water, and their inner network structures, swelling or gel-forming abilities and release properties were examined. The hypoglycemia caused by Ex4-C16-loaded DA-GC hydrogels was evaluated by subcutaneous administration in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. The results obtained showed that GC prepared at a DA:GC feed ratio of 1:100 had optimal properties with respect to hydrogel swelling, stiffness and Ex4-C16 incorporation, whereas DA-GC hydrogels prepared at a feed ratio of greater than 1:100 formed gels that were too stiff. The in vitro and in vivo release of Ex4-C16 from DA-GC hydrogels was dramatically delayed compared with native Ex4 probably due to strong hydrophobic interactions. In particular, Ex4-C16 in DA-GC hydrogels was found to be present around the injection site up to 10 days after subcutaneous administration, whereas Ex4 in DA-GC hydrogels was cleared from injection sites in ≈ 2 days in ICR mice. Finally, the hypoglycemia induced by Ex4-C16 DA-GC hydrogels was maintained for >7 days. Our findings demonstrate that Ex4-C16 DA-GC hydrogels offer a potential delivery system for the long-term treatment of type 2 diabetes., (Copyright © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Glycol chitosan (GC) grafted with 2,3-dimethylmaleic acid (DMA) and fullerene (C60) conjugates (GC-g-DMA-g-C60) were developed for use in a photosensitizer prodrug. GC-g-DMA-g-C60 was prepared via the simple two-step chemical grafting reactions of (i) DMA to free amine groups of GC and (ii) hydroxyl groups of GC-g-DMA to ππ carbon bonds of C60. This conjugate was self-assembled to form polysaccharidic nanogels consisting of a hydrophilic block (GC and DMA) and a hydrophobic block (C60). Here, GC-g-DMA-g-C60 nanogels also formed multi-nanogel aggregates due to the electrostatic interaction between the pendant carboxylic acid group (due to the DMA) and residual free amine group of GC at pH 7.4. Interestingly, the nanogel aggregates can be disintegrated at pH 5.0 due to the reduction of electrostatic interaction resulting from the cleavage of the DMA blocks at pH 5.0. Upon 670nm light illumination, photo-responsive properties of the nanogel aggregates allowed different singlet oxygen generation according to the pH condition: the reduced singlet oxygen generation (due to increased photo-interference effect between C60 molecules close-packed in nanogel aggregates) at pH 7.4, but the elevated singlet oxygen generation (due to the disintegration of nanogel aggregates) at pH 5.0. GC-g-DMA-g-C60 nanogel aggregates responds to pH 5.0 (approximately endosomal pH) can be a good candidate for endosomal pH targeting and in vivo photodynamic therapy in various malignant tumor cells., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Inhalable glycol chitosan-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles containing palmitic acid-modified exendin-4 (Pal-Ex4) (chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs) were prepared and characterized. The surface morphology, particle size, and zeta potential of chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were investigated, and the adsorption and cytotoxicity of chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were evaluated in human lung epithelial cells (A549). Finally, the lung deposition characteristics and hypoglycemia caused by chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were evaluated after pulmonary administration in imprinting control region (ICR) and type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Results showed that chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were spherical, compact and had a diameter of ~700 nm and a positive surface charge of +28.5 mV Chitosan-coated PLGA NPs were adsorbed onto A549 cells much more so than non-coated PLGA NPs. Pal-Ex4 release from chitosan-coated PLGA NPs was delayed by as much as 1.5 days as compared with chitosan-coated Ex4 PLGA NPs. In addition, chitosan-coated PLGA NPs remained in the lungs for ~72 hours after pulmonary administration, whereas most non-coated PLGA NPs were lost at 8 hours after administration. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic efficacy of inhaled chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs was 3.1-fold greater than that of chitosan Ex4 PLGA NPs in db/db mice. The authors believe chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs have considerable potential as a long-acting inhalation delivery system for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Glycol chitosan (GC)-grafted fullerene (GC-g-C(60)) conjugates were developed for use in photodynamic therapy of tumor cells. GC-g-C(60) was synthesized in anhydrous benzene/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) co-solvent via the chemical conjugation of free amine groups of GC to CC double bonds of C(60). The GC-g-C(60) with 5×10(-4) C(60) molecules per one repeating unit of GC was soluble in water. As C(60) molecules conjugated to GC increased to 0.16 molecules per one repeating unit of GC, GC-g-C(60) started to form supramolecular assemblies (∼30 nm) stabilized in phosphate buffer saline (PBS, 150 mM, pH 7.4). Upon 670 nm light illumination, photo-responsive properties of GC-g-C(60) allowed tremendous singlet oxygen generation in tumor cells for super phototoxicity. GC-g-C(60) also showed highly increased tumor accumulation ability for in vivo tumor of KB tumor-bearing nude mice. It is expected that our GC-g-C(60) conjugate may be a good candidate for in vivo photodynamic therapy in various malignant tumor cells., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polysaccharidic nanogels were fabricated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a glycol chitosan (GCS) grafted with functional 3-diethylaminopropyl (DEAP) groups. These nanogels were investigated to evaluate their cellular uptake in HeLa cells and in vivo fate in nude mice tumor model. Unlike free BSA, GCS-g-DEAP/BSA nanogels improved cellular uptake of BSA. Furthermore, this system led to an enhanced blood circulation and a high accumulation of BSA in the tumor site. Our collective results strongly support that GCS-g-DEAP/BSA nanogel is a potential carrier system for high molecular weight proteins., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We report charge-switching ionic nanocomplexes comprised of glycol chitosan grafted with 2,3-dimethylmaleic acid (DMA) (denoted as 'GCS-g-DMA' hereafter) and a proapoptotic peptide. This system allowed for improved peptide delivery to tumor sites via a mechanism of selective peptide release when the pH was dropped from 7.4 to 6.8.

In this study, a novel pH-responsive nanogel composed of glycol chitosan (GCS) grafted with functional 3-diethylaminopropyl (DEAP) groups (denoted as GCS-g-DEAP hereafter) was fabricated. The GCS-g-DEAP was designed to have a self-assembled arrangement consisting of hydrophilic block (GCS) and hydrophobic block (DEAP) at physiological pH. As the pH decreased to tumor extracellular pH (pH(e)), the nanogel was destabilized due to the protonation of DEAP. The pH-responsive property of the nanogel at tumor extracellular pH (pH(e)) was characterized in drug-release kinetic studies. The release of doxorubicin (DOX) from DOX-loaded nanogels was significantly accelerated at lower pH values, which allowed for increased DOX uptake by non-small lung carcinoma A546 cells under a slightly acidic pH condition, as in tumor pH(e)., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Glycol chitosan (GC), a chitosan derivative conjugated with ethylene glycol, is soluble in water at a neutral/acidic pH and is viscous. This GC was incorporated into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles (prepared by the multi-emulsion W(1)/O/W(2) (water-in-oil-in-water) method) to stabilize lysozyme (Lys) used as a model protein. Herein, GC's viscous property helped to improve Lys encapsulation efficacy and reduce Lys denaturaton at the water/organic solvent interface. When the GC concentration in the W(1) phase increased, the formation of non-covalent Lys aggregates decreased. This may be because the aqueous microdroplets surrounded by the firm viscous interface protect Lys from the degrading environment formed by the water/organic solvent interface. In an in vitro Lys release test, 40mg incorporation of GC led to continuous Lys release of up to 78wt.% for 1 month and presented bioactivity of more than 95% for Lys released from microparticles. In addition, there was negligible immune response in the tissue treated with the GC-incorporated PLGA microparticles, whereas there was a moderate foreign body reaction in the muscle layer and many configurations of neutrophils in the tissue treated with the PLGA microparticles without GC. It is expected that GC facilitates a decrease in immune responses exacerbated as a consequence of PLGA degradation.

In this study, we report pH-responsive polysaccharidic nanogels for cytosolic peptide delivery. We conjugated starch to water-soluble glycol chitosan and pH-responsive 3-diethylaminopropylamine (starch–(glycol chitosan–3-diethylaminopropylamine)). Starch–(glycol chitosan–3-diethylaminopropylamine) self-organizes in aqueous solution, with the glycol chitosan blocks on the hydrophilic outer shell and starch and 3-diethylaminopropylamine blocks in the hydrogel inner core. The experimental results demonstrated that the protonation of 3-diethylaminopropylamine at pH 6.0 (endosomal pH) allowed for accelerated release of the encapsulated D-(KLAKLAK)2 proapoptotic peptide from the nanogels as a result of electrostatic repulsion between D-(KLAKLAK)2 and 3-diethylaminopropylamine. A hemolysis test using red blood cell membranes (as an endosomal membrane model) revealed the excellent endosomolytic activity of these nanogels, which likely stems from the proton-sponge effect of 3-diethylaminopropylamine at pH 6.0. As a result, these nanogels resulted in increased KB tumor cell ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report charge-switching ionic nanocomplexes comprised of glycol chitosan grafted with 2,3-dimethylmaleic acid (DMA) (denoted as ‘GCS-g-DMA’ hereafter) and a proapoptotic peptide. This system allowed for improved peptide delivery to tumor sites viaa mechanism of selective peptide release when the pH was dropped from 7.4 to 6.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As caterpillars detect the presence of predators and secrete poison, herein, we show an innovative and highly effective cancer therapeutic system using biocompatible chitosan nanofiber (CNf) installed with a pH-responsive motif that senses tumor extracellular pH, pHe, prior to delivering dual-modal light-activatable materials for tumor reduction. The filamentous nanostructure of CNf is dynamic during cell interaction and durable in blood circulation. Due to its amine group, CNf uptakes a large amount of photothermal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, >25 wt %) and photodynamic chlorin e6 (Ce6, >5 wt %). As the innovative CNf approaches tumors, cationic CNf effectively discharges AuNPs connected to the pH-responsive motif via electrostatic repulsion and selectively binds to tumor cells that are generally anionic, via the electrostatic attraction accompanied by CNf. We demonstrated via these actions that the endocytosed Ce6 (on CNf) and AuNPs (free from CNf) significantly elicited tumor cell death under light irradiation. As a result, the synergistic interplay of thermogenesis and photodynamic action was observed to switch on at the pHe, resulting in a striking reduction in tumor formation and growth rate upon light exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inhalable deoxycholic acid-modified glycol chitosan (DOCA-GC) nanogels containing palmityl acylated exendin-4 (Ex4-C16) were prepared by self-assembly and characterized physicochemically. The lung deposition of DOCA-GC nanogels was monitored using an infrared imaging system, and the hypoglycemia caused by Ex4-C16-loaded DOCA-GC nanogels was evaluated after pulmonary administration in type 2 diabetic db/db mice. The cytotoxicities and lung histologies induced by DOCA-GC nanogels were examined in human lung epithelial cells (A549 and Calu-3) and db/db mice, respectively. Results showed that the DOCA-GC nanogels prepared were spherical and compact and had a diameter of ~220nm. Although the incorporation of Ex4-C16 (50.9±7.8%) into DOCA-GC nanogels was significantly lower than that of Ex4 (81.4±4.9%), the Ex4-C16 release from DOCA-GC nanogels was greatly delayed vs. Ex4. DOCA-GC nanogels were deposited rapidly after pulmonary administration and remained in the lungs for ~72h. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic duration of inhaled Ex4-C16 nanogels was much greater than that of Ex4 nanogels in db/db mice. Cytotoxicity results of DOCA-GC nanogels were considered acceptable, and the tissue histologies of mouse lungs administered nanogels did not show any significant difference vs. control lungs. The authors believe that Ex4-C16 DOCA-GC nanogels offer a long-acting inhalation delivery system for treating type 2 diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel synthetic nanocomplex was constructed from glycol chitosan (GCS) grafted with 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (DMA) (denoted as ‘GCD’ hereafter) and lysozyme (isoelectric point=10.9) as a model protein. This is a core-shell supramolecular assemble formed through electrostatic interactions between anionic GCD and cationic lysozyme at a pH 7.4. The pH-sensitivity of the nanocomplexes originates from the dissociation of DMA block from GCD at a slightly acidic pH (i.e., pH 6.8), resulting in an increased electrostatic repulsion between cationic GCS and cationic lysozyme. This pH-induced charge switching of GCD provides a mechanism for triggered protein drug release from the nanocomplexes triggered by the small change in pH (pH 7.4–6.8). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]