Temperature-responsive bioconjugates. 1. Synthesis of temperature-responsive oligomers with reactive end groups and their coupling to biomolecules

Temperature Responsive Polymer Conjugate Prepared by "Grafting from" Proteins toward the Adsorption and Removal of Uremic Toxin

In this study, temperature-responsive polymer-protein conjugate was synthesized using a “grafting from” concept by introducing a chain transfer agent (CTA) into bovine serum albumin (BSA). The BSA-CTA was used as a starting point for poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The research investigations suggest that the thermally responsive behavior of PNIPAAm was controlled by the monomer ratio to CTA, as well as the amount of CTA introduced to BSA. The study further synthesized the human serum albumin (HSA)-PNIPAAm conjugate, taking the advantage that HSA can specifically adsorb indoxyl sulfate (IS) as a uremic toxin. The HSA-PNIPAAm conjugate could capture IS and decreased the concentration by about 40% by thermal precipitation. It was also revealed that the protein activity was not impaired by the conjugation with PNIPAAm. The proposed strategy is promising in not only removal of uremic toxins but also enrichment of biomarkers for early diagnostic applications.

Molecular bases for temperature sensitivity in supramolecular assemblies and their applications as thermoresponsive soft materials

Thermoresponsive supramolecular assemblies have been extensively explored in diverse formats, from injectable hydrogels to nanoscale carriers, for a variety of applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering and thermo-controlled catalysis. Understanding the molecular bases behind thermal sensitivity of materials is fundamentally important for the rational design of assemblies with optimal combination of properties and predictable tunability for specific applications. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in this area with a specific focus on the parameters and factors that influence thermoresponsive properties of soft materials. We summarize and analyze the effects of structures and architectures of molecules, hydrophilic and lipophilic balance, concentration, components and external additives upon the thermoresponsiveness of the corresponding molecular assemblies.

Thermally-modulated cell separation columns using a thermoresponsive block copolymer brush as a packing material for the purification of mesenchymal stem cells

Cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is used as effective regenerative treatment. Cell therapy requires effective cell separation without cell modification and cellular activity reduction. In this study, we developed a temperature-modulated mesenchymal stem cell separation column. A temperature-responsive cationic block copolymer, poly(N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PDMAPAAm-b-PNIPAAm) brush with various cationic copolymer compositions, was grafted onto silica beads via two-step atom transfer radical polymerization. Using the packed beads, the elution behavior of the MSCs was observed. At 37 °C, the MSCs were adsorbed onto the column via both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with the PNIPAAm and PDMAPAAm segments of the copolymer brush, respectively. By reducing the temperature to 4 °C, the adsorbed MSCs were eluted from the column by reducing the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions attributed to the hydration and extension of the PNIPAAm segment of the block copolymer brush. From the temperature-modulated adsorption and elution behavior of MSCs, a suitable DMAPAAm composition of the block copolymer brush was determined. Using the column, a mixture of MSC and BM-CD34⁺ cells was separated by simply changing the column temperature. The column was used to purify the MSCs, with purities of 78.2%, via a temperature change from 37 °C to 4 °C. Additionally, the cellular activity of the MSCs was retained throughout the column separation step. Overall, the obtained results show that the developed column is useful for MSC separation without cell modification and cellular activity reduction.

Thermoresponsive interfaces obtained using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based copolymer for bioseparation and tissue engineering applications

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) is the most well-known and widely used stimuli-responsive polymer in the biomedical field owing to its ability to undergo temperature-dependent hydration and dehydration with temperature variations, causing hydrophilic and hydrophobic alterations. This temperature-dependent property of PNIPAAm provides functionality to interfaces containing PNIPAAm. Notably, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic alterations caused by the change in the temperature-responsive property of PNIPAAm-modified interfaces induce temperature-modulated interactions with biomolecules, proteins, and cells. This intrinsic property of PNIPAAm can be effectively used in various biomedical applications, particularly in bioseparation and tissue engineering applications, owing to the functionality of PNIPAAm-modified interfaces based on the temperature modulation of the interaction between PNIPAAm-modified interfaces and biomolecules and cells. This review focuses on PNIPAAm-modified interfaces in terms of preparation method, properties, and their applications. Advances in PNIPAAm-modified interfaces for existing and developing applications are also summarized.

Formation and Stability of Smooth Thin Films with Soft Microgels Made of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) and Poly(Acrylic Acid)

In this work, soft microgels of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) at two different sizes and of interpenetrated polymer network (IPN) composed of PNIPAm and Poly(Acrylic Acid) (PAAc) were synthesized. Then, solutions of these different types of microgels have been spin-coated on glass substrates with different degrees of hydrophobicity. PNIPAm particles with a larger diameter form either patches or a continuous layer, where individual particles are still distinct, depending on the dispersion concentration and spin speed. On the other, PNIPAm particles with a smaller diameter and IPN particles form a continuous and smooth film, with a thickness depending on the dispersion concentration and spin-speed. The difference in morphology observed can be explained if one considers that the microgels may behave as colloidal particles or macromolecules, depending on their size and composition. Additionally, the microgel size and composition can also affect the stability of the depositions when rinsed in water. In particular, we find that the smooth and continuous films show a stimuli-dependent stability on parameters such as temperature and pH, while large particle layers are stable under any condition except on hydrophilic glass by washing at 50 °C.

Responsive polymers for medical diagnostics

Stimulus-responsive polymers have been used in improving the efficacy of medical diagnostics through different approaches including enhancing the contrast in imaging techniques and promoting the molecular recognition in diagnostic assays. This review overviews the mechanisms of stimulus-responsive polymers in response to external stimuli including temperature, pH, ion, light, etc. The applications of responsive polymers in magnetic resonance imaging, capture and purification of biomolecules through protein-ligand recognition and lab-on-a-chip technology are discussed.

Enhancing the Possibilities of Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography through Hyphenation of Purely Aqueous Temperature-Responsive and Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) allows for substantial gains in theoretical peak capacity in the field of liquid chromatography. However, in practice, theoretical performance is rarely achieved due to a combination of undersampling, orthogonality, and refocusing issues prevalent in many LC × LC applications. This is intricately linked to the column dimensions, flow rates, and mobile-phase compositions used, where, in many cases, incompatible or strong solvents are introduced in the second-dimension (²D) column, leading to peak broadening and the need for more complex interfacing approaches. In this contribution, the combination of temperature-responsive (TR) and reversed-phase (RP) LC is demonstrated, which, due to the purely aqueous mobile phase used in TRLC, allows for complete and more generic refocusing of organic solutes prior to the second-dimension RP separation using a conventional 10-port valve interface. Thus far, this was only possible when combining other purely aqueous modes such as ion exchange or gel filtration chromatography with RPLC, techniques which are limited to the analysis of charged or high MW solutes, respectively. This novel TRLC × RPLC combination relaxes undersampling constraints and complete refocusing and therefore offers novel possibilities in the field of LC × LC including temperature modulation. The concept is illustrated through the TRLC × RPLC analysis of mixtures of neutral organic solutes.

An update on smart biocatalysts for industrial and biomedical applications

Recently, smart biocatalysts, where enzymes are conjugated to stimuli-responsive (smart) polymers, have gained significant attention. Based on the presence or absence of external stimuli, the polymer attached to the enzyme changes its conformation to protect the enzyme from the external environment and regulate the enzyme activity, thus acting as a molecular switch. Owing to this behaviour, smart biocatalysts can be separated easily from a reaction mixture and re-used several times. Several such smart polymer-based biocatalysts have been developed for industrial and biomedical applications. In addition, they have been used in biosensors, biometrics and nano-electronic devices. This review article covers recent advances in developing different kinds of stimuli-responsive enzyme bioconjugates, including conjugation strategies, and their applications.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based thermoresponsive surfaces provide new types of biomedical applications

Thermoresponsive surfaces, prepared by grafting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) or its copolymers, have been investigated for biomedical applications. Thermoresponsive cell culture dishes that show controlled cell adhesion and detachment following external temperature changes, represent a promising application of thermoresponsive surfaces. These dishes can be used to fabricate cell sheets, which are currently used as effective therapies for patients. Thermoresponsive microcarriers for large-scale cell cultivation have also been developed by taking advantage of the thermally modulated cell adhesion and detachment properties of thermoresponsive surfaces. Furthermore, thermoresponsive bioseparation systems using thermoresponsive surfaces for separating and purifying pharmaceutical proteins and therapeutic cells have been developed, with the separation systems able to maintain their activity and biological potency throughout the procedure. These applications of thermoresponsive surfaces have been improved with progress in preparation techniques of thermoresponsive surfaces, such as polymerization methods, and surface modification techniques. In the present review, the various types of PIPAAm-based thermoresponsive surfaces are summarized by describing their preparation methods, properties, and successful biomedical applications.

A RAFT copolymerization of NIPAM and HPMA and evaluation of thermo-responsive properties of poly(NIPAM-co-HPMA)

66 (co)polymers of NIPAM and HPMA with varying MW, composition, and end functionality were synthesized by RAFT polymerization and their thermo-responsive properties were systematically evaluated.

Labeling and functionalizing amphipols for biological applications

Amphipols (APols) are short amphipathic polymers developed as an alternative to detergents for handling membrane proteins (MPs) in aqueous solution. MPs are, as a rule, much more stable following trapping with APols than they are in detergent solutions. The best-characterized APol to date, called A8-35, is a mixture of short-chain sodium polyacrylates randomly derivatized with octylamine and isopropylamine. Its solution properties have been studied in detail, and it has been used extensively for biochemical and biophysical studies of MPs. One of the attractive characteristics of APols is that it is relatively easy to label them, isotopically or otherwise, without affecting their physical-chemical properties. Furthermore, several variously modified APols can be mixed, achieving multiple functionalization of MP/APol complexes in the easiest possible manner. Labeled or tagged APols are being used to study the solution properties of APols, their miscibility, their biodistribution upon injection into living organisms, their association with MPs and the composition, structure and dynamics of MP/APol complexes, examining the exchange of surfactants at the surface of MPs, labeling MPs to follow their distribution in fractionation experiments or to immobilize them, increasing the contrast between APols and solvent or MPs in biophysical experiments, improving NMR spectra, etc. Labeling or functionalization of APols can take various courses, each of which has its specific constraints and advantages regarding both synthesis and purification. The present review offers an overview of the various derivatives of A8-35 and its congeners that have been developed in our laboratory and discusses the pros and cons of various synthetic routes.

Temperature-Responsive Fluorescence Polymer Probes with Accurate Thermally Controlled Cellular Uptakes

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-based temperature-responsive fluorescence polymer probes were developed using radical polymerization, with 3-mercaptopropionic acid as the chain-transfer agent, followed by activation of terminal carboxyl groups with N-hydroxysuccinimide and reaction with 5-aminofluorescein (FL). The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the resulting fluorescent polymer probes differed depending on the copolymer composition, and had a sharp phase-transition (hydrophilic/hydrophobic) boundary at the LCST. The cellular uptakes of the fluorescent polymer probes were effectively suppressed below the LCST, and increased greatly above the LCST. In particular, the cellular uptake of a copolymer with N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide, P(NIPAAm-co-DMAPAAm2%)-FL (LCST: 37.4 °C), can be controlled within only 1 °C near body temperature, which is suitable for biological applications. These results indicated that the cellular uptakes of thermoresponsive polymers could be accurately controlled by the temperature, and such polymers have potential applications in discriminating between normal and pathological cells, and in intracellular drug delivery systems with local hyperthermia.

Synthesis of end-functionalized boronic acid containing copolymers and their bioconjugates with rod-like viruses for multiple responsive hydrogels

End-functionalized boronic acid containing copolymers are grafted to a rod-like M13 virus. The resultant virus polymer can reversibly form hydrogels, which can be regulated by temperature, pH and glucose.

Biodegradable in situ gelling delivery systems containing pilocarpine as new antiglaucoma formulations: effect of a mercaptoacetic acid/N-isopropylacrylamide molar ratio

Ocular drug delivery is one of the most commonly used treatment modalities in the management of glaucoma. We have recently proposed the use of gelatin and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) graft copolymers as biodegradable in situ forming delivery systems for the intracameral administration of antiglaucoma medications. In this study, we further investigated the influence of carrier characteristics on drug delivery performance. The carboxyl-terminated PNIPAAm samples with different molecular weights were synthesized by varying the molar ratio of mercaptoacetic acid (MAA)/N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) from 0.05 to 1.25, and were determined by end-group titration. The preparation of gelatin-g-PNIPAAm (GN) copolymers from these thermoresponsive polymers was achieved using carbodiimide chemistry. Our results showed that the carboxylic end-capped PNIPAAm of high molecular weight may lead to the lower thermal phase transition temperature and slower degradation rate of GN vehicles than its low molecular weight counterparts. With a decreasing MAA/NIPAAm molar ratio, the drug encapsulation efficiency of copolymers was increased due to fast temperature-triggered capture of pilocarpine nitrate. The degradation of the gelatin network could greatly affect the drug release profiles. All of the GN copolymeric carriers demonstrated good corneal endothelial cell and tissue compatibility. It is concluded that different types of GN-based delivery systems exhibit noticeably distinct intraocular pressure-lowering effect and miosis action, thereby reflecting the potential value of a MAA/NIPAAm molar ratio in the development of new antiglaucoma formulations.

DNA block copolymers: functional materials for nanoscience and biomedicine

We live in a world full of synthetic materials, and the development of new technologies builds on the design and synthesis of new chemical structures, such as polymers. Synthetic macromolecules have changed the world and currently play a major role in all aspects of daily life. Due to their tailorable properties, these materials have fueled the invention of new techniques and goods, from the yogurt cup to the car seat belts. To fulfill the requirements of modern life, polymers and their composites have become increasingly complex. One strategy for altering polymer properties is to combine different polymer segments within one polymer, known as block copolymers. The microphase separation of the individual polymer components and the resulting formation of well defined nanosized domains provide a broad range of new materials with various properties. Block copolymers facilitated the development of innovative concepts in the fields of drug delivery, nanomedicine, organic electronics, and nanoscience. Block copolymers consist exclusively of organic polymers, but researchers are increasingly interested in materials that combine synthetic materials and biomacromolecules. Although many researchers have explored the combination of proteins with organic polymers, far fewer investigations have explored nucleic acid/polymer hybrids, known as DNA block copolymers (DBCs). DNA as a polymer block provides several advantages over other biopolymers. The availability of automated synthesis offers DNA segments with nucleotide precision, which facilitates the fabrication of hybrid materials with monodisperse biopolymer blocks. The directed functionalization of modified single-stranded DNA by Watson-Crick base-pairing is another key feature of DNA block copolymers. Furthermore, the appropriate selection of DNA sequence and organic polymer gives control over the material properties and their self-assembly into supramolecular structures. The introduction of a hydrophobic polymer into DBCs in aqueous solution leads to amphiphilic micellar structures with a hydrophobic polymer core and a DNA corona. In this Account, we discuss selected examples of recent developments in the synthesis, structure manipulation and applications of DBCs. We present achievements in synthesis of DBCs and their amplification based on molecular biology techniques. We also focus on concepts involving supramolecular assemblies and the change of morphological properties by mild stimuli. Finally, we discuss future applications of DBCs. DBC micelles have served as drug-delivery vehicles, as scaffolds for chemical reactions, and as templates for the self-assembly of virus capsids. In nanoelectronics, DNA polymer hybrids can facilitate size selection and directed deposition of single-walled carbon nanotubes in field effect transistor (FET) devices.

Thermoresponsive polymer brush on monolithic-silica-rod for the high-speed separation of bioactive compounds

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), one of the most utilized thermoresponsive polymers, brush-grafted monolithic-silica columns were prepared through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for effective thermoresponsive-chromatography matrices. ATRP initiator was grafted on monolithic silica-rod surfaces by flowing a toluene solution containing ATRP initiator into monolithic silica-rod columns. N-Isopropylacrylamide (IPAAm) monomer and CuCl/CuCl(2)/Me(6)TREN, an ATRP catalytic system, were dissolved in 2-propanol, and the reaction solution was pumped into the preprepared initiator-modified columns at 25 °C for 16 h. The constructed PIPAAm-brush structure on the monolithic silica-rod surface was confirmed by XPS, elemental analysis, SEM observation, and GPC measurement of grafted PIPAAm. The prepared monolithic silica-rod columns were also characterized by chromatographic analysis. PIPAAm-brush-modified monolithic silica-rod columns were able to separate hydrophobic steroids with a short analysis time (10 min), compared to PIPAAm-brush-modified silica-beads-packed columns, because of the horizontally limited diffusion path length of monolithic supporting materials. Additionally, diluted PIPAAm-brush monolithic silica-rod column gave a further shorting analysis time (5 min). These results indicated (1) surface-initiated ATRP constructed PIPAAm-brush structures on monolithic silica-rod surfaces and (2) PIPAAm-brush grafted monolithic silica-rod column prepared by ATRP was a promising tool for analyzing hydrophobic-bioactive compounds with a short analysis time.

Separation of phosphorylated peptides utilizing dual pH- and temperature-responsive chromatography

The phosphorylation of a peptide is considered to be one of the most important post-translational modification reactions that can alter protein function in mammalian cells. To separate and purify, we developed a dual temperature- and pH-responsive chromatography based on terpolymer composed of N-isopropylacrylamide, N,N'-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide and butylmethacrylate. The property of the surface of the terpolymer-grafted stationary phase altered from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, and from changed to non-charged by changes in the temperature and the pH, respectively. In addition, it was possible to appear and hide ion-exchange groups on the polymer chain surface by temperature changes. These phenomena resulted from changes in the charge and the hydrophobicity of the pH- and temperature-responsive polymer on the stationary surface by controlling the temperature. In the developed environmental-responsive chromatographic system, the ionizable dimethylamino group of N,N'-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide in terpolymer played a key role for the separation. We applied the developed chromatographic system to the separation of phosphorylated compounds, such as phospho-tyrosine, phosphopeptide and oligonucleotides. At a low column temperature, the electrostatic interaction plays a predominant role for retain anionic phosphorylated compounds, because of the strong interaction between the cationic dimethylamino group in the stationary phase and the anionic phosphoric group in the analyte. On the contrary, the hydrophobic interaction became predominant upon increasing the temperature. The results showed that both the electrostatic and the hydrophobic interactions became controllable with a temperature change during the chromatographic process. Dual pH- and temperature-responsive chromatography would be very useful for biomacromolecules separation and purification.

Thermally triggered cellular uptake of quantum dots immobilized with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and cell penetrating peptide

Thermally sensitive quantum dots (TSQDs) that exhibit an "on-demand" cellular uptake behavior via temperature-induced "shielding/deshielding" of cell penetrating peptides (CPP) on the surface were fabricated. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) (M(w) = 11.5K) and CPP were biotinylated at their terminal ends and co-immobilized on to the surface of streptavidin-coated quantum dots (QDs-Strep) through biotin-streptavidin interaction. The cellular contact of CPP was sterically hindered due to hydrated PNIPAAm chains below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In contrast, above the LCST, grafted PNIPAAm chains were collapsed to make CPP moieties resurfaced, leading to increased cellular uptake of QDs. The temperature-controlled "shielding/deshielding" of CPP was further applied for a thermally triggered siRNA delivery system, where biotinylated siRNA was additionally conjugated to the surface of TSQDs. The level of gene silencing was significantly enhanced by increasing temperature above the LCST due to the surface exposure of CPP.

"Smart" diblock copolymers as templates for magnetic-core gold-shell nanoparticle synthesis

We report a new strategy for synthesizing temperature-responsive gamma-Fe(2)O(3)-core/Au-shell nanoparticles (Au-mNPs) from diblock copolymer micelles. The amphiphilic diblock copolymer chains were synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) with a thermally responsive "smart" poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm) block and an amine-containing poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylamide) (DMAEAm) block that acted as a reducing agent during gold shell formation. The Au-mNPs reversibly aggregated upon heating the solution above the transition temperature of pNIPAAm, resulting in a red-shifted localized surface plasmon resonance.

Aqueous chromatographic system for the quantification of propofol in biological fluids using a temperature-responsive polymer modified stationary phase

A new method for the quantitative analysis of monkey serum propofol, which is widely used as an anaesthetic agent, was developed by utilizing a temperature-responsive polymer of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and butyl methacrylate (BMA) as the stationary phase of HPLC-fluorescence detection. This poly(NIPAAm-co-BMA) copolymer undergoes a reversible phase transition from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic microstructure when triggered by change in the temperature. Also this chromatographic system is possible to separate the analytes by using only water as a mobile phase. A pretreatment of the serum (80 microL) was only solid-phase extraction, and the recovery rate of propofol and internal standard was more than 77%, respectively. This method covered the calibration range from 0.5 microg/mL to 10 microg/mL and allowed a reproducible quantification of the serum propofol in administrated monkey serum. The intra- and inter-assay relative standard deviations were less than 14.1%. In addition, there was good relationship of the quantification values between the developed method and the widely used reversed-phase HPLC method. Our developed method has proven to be useful for a simple analysis of propofol in clinical practice, because the avoidance of complicated mobile phase preparation was possible, and only temperature changing could regulate the retention time of the analyte. In addition, by using water instead of fossil fuel, it is the ideal analytical method according to green chemistry.

Temperature-responsive intelligent interfaces for biomolecular separation and cell sheet engineering

Temperature-responsive intelligent surfaces, prepared by the modification of an interface with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its derivatives, have been used for biomedical applications. Such surfaces exhibit temperature-responsive hydrophilic/hydrophobic alterations with external temperature changes, which, in turn, result in thermally modulated interactions with biomolecules and cells. In this review, we focus on the application of these intelligent surfaces to chromatographic separation and cell cultures. Chromatographic separations using several types of intelligent surfaces are mentioned briefly, and various effects related to the separation of bioactive compounds are discussed, including wettability, copolymer composition and graft polymer architecture. Similarly, we also summarize temperature-responsive cell culture substrates that allow the recovery of confluent cell monolayers as contiguous living cell sheets for tissue-engineering applications. The key factors in temperature-dependent cell adhesion/detachment control are discussed from the viewpoint of grafting temperature-responsive polymers, and new methodologies for effective cell sheet culturing and the construction of thick tissues are summarized.

Reversible gelation of rod-like viruses grafted with thermoresponsive polymers

The synthesis and selected macroscopic properties of a new model system consisting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-coated rod-like fd virus particles are presented. The sticky rod-like colloids can be used to study effect of particle shape on gelation transition, the structure and viscoelasticity of isotropic and nematic gels, and to make both open isotropic as well as ordered nematic particle networks. This model system of rod-like colloids, for which the strength of attraction between the particles is tunable, is obtained by chemically grafting highly monodisperse rod-like fd virus particles with thermoresponsive polymers, e.g. PNIPAM. At room temperature, suspensions of the resulting hybrid PNIPAM-fd are fluid sols which are in isotropic or liquid crystalline phases, depending on the particle concentration and ionic strength. During heating/cooling, the suspensions change reversibly between sol and gel state near a critical temperature of approximately 32 degrees C, close to the lower critical solution temperature of free PNIPAM. The so-called nematic gel, which exhibits a cholesteric feature, can therefore be easily obtained. The gelation behavior of PNIPAM-fd system and the structure of the nematic gel have been characterized by rheology, optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering.