Uptake Pathway of Styrene Maleic Acid Copolymer-Coated Lipid Emulsions Under Acidic Tumor Microenvironment

The purpose of this study was to elucidate and compare styrene maleic acid copolymer (SMA)-coated lipid emulsions (SMA emulsions) uptake pathway in vascular endothelial cells and surrounding cancer cells under not only neutral but also acidic pH, which is often observed in tumor microenvironment. DiI-labeled SMA emulsions were prepared using 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn‑glycero-3-phosphocholine and triolein. In murine melanoma B16-BL6 (B16) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), DiI-labeled SMA emulsions uptake under near-neutral (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH 6.0) conditions was determined by fluorescent analysis. SMA emulsions were taken up more efficiently into HUVEC than B16 cells under acidic condition in a temperature-dependent manner. Uptake study using endocytosis inhibitors showed that SMA emulsions were taken up by macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis in B16 cells. In HUVEC, however, they were taken up by clathrin- and caveolae-independent, but dynamin-dependent pathway. SMA emulsions would be internalized efficiently into vascular endothelial cells as well as cancer cells under acidic microenvironment via different endocytosis pathways. SMA emulsions could be a promising drug delivery carrier for anti-angiogenic drugs.

A generalizable protocol for expression and purification of membrane-bound bacterial phosphoglycosyl transferases in liponanoparticles

Phosphoglycosyl transferases (PGTs) are among the first membrane-bound enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of bacterial glycoconjugates. Robust expression and purification protocols for an abundant subfamily of PGTs remains lacking. Recent advancements in detergent-free methods for membrane protein solubilization open the door for purification of difficult membrane proteins directly from cell membranes into native-like liponanoparticles. By leveraging autoinduction, in vivo SUMO tag cleavage, styrene maleic acid co-polymer liponanoparticles (SMALPs), and Strep-Tag purification, we have established a robust workflow for expression and purification of previously unobtainable PGTs. The material generated from this workflow is extremely pure and can be directly visualized by Cryogenic Electron Microscopy (CryoEM). The methods presented here promise to be generalizable to additional membrane proteins recombinantly expressed in E. coli and should be of interest to the greater membrane proteomics community.

Preparation and characterization of lipid emulsions containing styrene maleic acid copolymer for the development of pH-responsive drug carriers

Lipid emulsions are potential carriers for poorly water-soluble drugs. Previously, we revealed that lipid nanoparticles complexed with styrene maleic acid copolymer (SMA) disintegrate under acidic pH. In the present study, SMA-containing lipid emulsions (SMA emulsions) were prepared and their physicochemical and biological properties were examined to test whether SMA emulsions could be used as a trigger to facilitate drug release in response to pH reduction. By sonicating lipid and SMA mixtures, homogeneously sized SMA emulsion particles were prepared as verified via dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Upon the reduction of solution pH, disintegration of SMA emulsions was observed, which may be utilized for drug release at mildly acidic pH. In addition, the sensitivity to pH changes could be controlled by altering the lipid composition. Serum proteins bound to SMA emulsions were analyzed to predict the metabolic fate upon intravenous injection. Predictably, apolipoproteins were abundantly bound, suggesting that SMA emulsions should avoid being recognized as foreign substances. Furthermore, subcellular distribution studies using a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) demonstrated that SMA emulsions localize to lysosomes, which have a lower pH. These results suggest that SMA emulsions could be promising pH-responsive drug carriers.