Current Issue February 2012, Vol. 8, No. 2

Linear polyethylenimine (lPEI, 25 kDa) nanoparticles' (LPN) series was synthesized by varying percentage of cross-linking with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDE) and their size, surface charge, morphology, pDNA protection/release, cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency were evaluated. Synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were spherical in shape (size: ~109 – 235 nm; zeta potential: +38 to +16 mV).

Hypersensitivity reactions to liposomal drugs, often observed with Doxil and AmBisome, can arise from activation of the complement (C) system by phospholipid bilayers. To understand the mechanism of this adverse immune reaction called C activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA), we analyzed the relationship among liposome features, C activation in human serum in vitro, and liposome-induced cardiovascular distress in pigs, a model for human CARPA.

Novel nanostructured lipid-dextran sulfate hybrid carriers (NLDCs) were successfully developed for sustained delivery of water-soluble cationic mitoxantrone hydrochloride (MTO) and overcoming multidrug resistance. The introduction of negative polymer of dextran sulfate sodium significantly improved the encapsulation efficiency (97.4%) and sustained the release of MTO (86.9% at 72 hours).

We report a novel synthetic biocompatible material: a conjugate with a fatty acid-substituted dextran decorated with cRGDfK peptide, which was used as a stable coating material instead of the conventional poly(ethylene glycol) for nanodrug preparation.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major clinical obstacle to the success of cancer chemotherapy. Here we developed a gold-doxorubicin (DOX) nanoconjugates system to overcome MDR. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were first PEGylated as Au-PEG-NH2, and DOX was then grafted onto AuNPs via a cleavable disulfide linkage (Au-PEG-SS-DOX).