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Yu R, Petit E, Barboiu M, Li S, Sun W, Chen C. Biobased dynamic hydrogels by reversible imine bonding for controlled release of thymopentin. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2021; 127:112210. [PMID: 34225862 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Thymopentin (TP5) is widely used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, but the short in vivo half-life of TP5 strongly restricts its clinical applications. A series of blank and TP5 loaded hydrogels were synthesized via reversible dual imine bonding by mixing water soluble O-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) with a dynamer (Dy) prepared from Jeffamine and benzene-1,3,5-tricarbaldehyde. TP5 release from hydrogels was studied at 37 °C under in vitro conditions. The molar mass of CMCS, drug loading conditions and drug content were varied to elucidate their effects on hydrogel properties and drug release behaviors. Density functional theory was applied to theoretically confirm the chemical connections between TP5 or CMCS with Dy. All hydrogels exhibited interpenetrating porous architecture with average pore size from 59 to 83 μm, and pH-sensitive swelling up to 10,000% at pH 8. TP5 encapsulation affected the rheological properties of hydrogels as TP5 was partially attached to the network via imine bonding. Higher TP5 loading led to higher release rates. Faster release was observed at pH 5.5 than at pH 7.4 due to lower stability of imine bonds in acidic media. Fitting of release data using Higuchi model showed that initial TP5 release was essentially diffusion controlled. All these findings proved that the dynamic hydrogels are promising carriers for controlled delivery of hydrophilic drugs, and shed new light on the design of drug release systems by both physical mixing and reversible covalent bonding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yu
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Eddy Petit
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Mihail Barboiu
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France.
| | - Suming Li
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France.
| | - Wenjing Sun
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China.
| | - Congmei Chen
- National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen (Shenzhen Cloud Computing Center), Guangdong, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Cao Q, Gao X, Lin Y, Yue C, Wang Y, Quan F, Zhang Z, Liu X, Lu Y, Zhan Y, Yang H, Li X, Qin D, Birnbaumer L, Hao K, Yang Y. Thymopentin ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by triggering the production of IL-22 in both innate and adaptive lymphocytes. Theranostics 2019; 9:7490-7505. [PMID: 31695782 PMCID: PMC6831468 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease, notoriously challenging to treat. Previous studies have found a positive correlation between thymic atrophy and colitis severity. It was, therefore, worthwhile to investigate the effect of thymopentin (TP5), a synthetic pentapeptide corresponding to the active domain of the thymopoietin, on colitis. Methods: Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice were treated with TP5 by subcutaneous injection. Body weight, colon length, colon weight, immune organ index, disease activity index (DAI) score, and the peripheral blood profile were examined. The immune cells of the spleen and colon were analyzed by flow cytometry. Histology was performed on isolated colon tissues for cytokine analysis. Bacterial DNA was extracted from mouse colonic feces to assess the intestinal microbiota. Intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs), HCT116, CT26, and splenocytes were cultured and treated with TP5. Results: TP5 treatment increased the body weight and colon length, decreased the DAI score, and restored colon architecture of colitic mice. TP5 also decreased the infiltration of immune cells and expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Importantly, the damaged thymus and compromised lymphocytes in peripheral blood were significantly restored by TP5. Also, the production of IL-22, both in innate and adaptive lymphoid cells, was triggered by TP5. Given the critical role of IL-22 in mucosal host defense, we tested the effect of TP5 on mucus barrier and gut microbiota and found that the number of goblet cells and the level of Mucin-2 expression were restored, and the composition of the gut microbiome was normalized after TP5 treatment. The critical role of IL-22 in the protective effect of TP5 on colitis was further confirmed by administering the anti-IL-22 antibody (αIL-22), which completely abolished the effect of TP5. Furthermore, TP5 significantly increased the expression level of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ (RORγt), a transcription factor for IL-22. Consistent with this, RORγt inhibitor abrogated the upregulation of IL-22 induced by TP5. Conclusion: TP5 exerts a protective effect on DSS-induced colitis by triggering the production of IL-22 in both innate and adaptive lymphocytes. This study delineates TP5 as an immunomodulator that may be a potential drug for the treatment of UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhua Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Xinghua Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Yanting Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Chongxiu Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Fei Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Xiaoxuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Yuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Yanling Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Hongbao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Xianjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Di Qin
- School of Sports and Health, Nanjing sport institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210001, PR China
| | - Lutz Birnbaumer
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA, and Institute of Biomedical Research (BIOMED), Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires C1107AFF, Argentina
| | - Kun Hao
- Key Lab of Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, PR China
| | - Yong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
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Zhang T, Qin XY, Cao X, Li WH, Gong T, Zhang ZR. Thymopentin-loaded phospholipid-based phase separation gel with long-lasting immunomodulatory effects: in vitro and in vivo studies. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2019; 40:514-521. [PMID: 30002492 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-018-0085-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymopentin (TP5) is an effective immunomodulatory agent for autoimmune disease that has been used clinically for decades. However, its application is greatly limited by its extremely short half-life in vivo, poor membrane permeability and extensive metabolism in gastrointestinal tract, resulting in repeated injection and poor patient compliance. In the present study, we developed a TP5-loaded, phospholipid-based phase separation gel (PPSG) to achieve sustained drug release profile and long-lasting therapeutic effects. We firstly demonstrated the physiochemical characteristics of PPSG before and after phase transition by examining the viscosity and morphology change caused by the phase transition. Moreover, the PPSG exerted a low cytotoxicity in L929 cells and HUVECs, suggesting the biocompatibility of PPSG. A month-long drug release profile of TP5 PPSG was observed both in vitro and in vivo, revealing its sustained and controlled drug release property. Most importantly, in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive rats, a single dose of TP5 PPSG (15 mg/kg, sc) injected could normalize their T-SOD levels and CD4+/CD8+ ratio; such an immunoregulatory effect was comparable to that produced by repeated injection of TP5 solution (0.6 mg/kg per day, sc) for 14 consecutive days. Thus, TP5 PPSG has a great potential for sustained delivery of TP5 in clinical use because of its simple manufacture process, good biocompatibility and long-lasting immunomodulatory efficacy, which could greatly improve patient compliance.
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