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Proceedings of the Japan Academy.... Dec 2023This review mainly highlights our studies on the synthesis of one-handed helical polymers with a static memory of helicity based on the noncovalent helicity induction... (Review)
Review
This review mainly highlights our studies on the synthesis of one-handed helical polymers with a static memory of helicity based on the noncovalent helicity induction with a helical-sense bias and subsequent memory of the helicity approach that we developed during the past decade. Apart from the previous approaches, an excess one-handed helical conformation, once induced by nonracemic molecules, is immediately retained ("memorized") after the complete removal of the nonracemic molecules, accompanied by a significant amplification of the asymmetry, providing novel switchable chiral materials for chromatographic enantioseparation and asymmetric catalysis as well as a highly sensitive colorimetric and fluorescence chiral sensor. A conceptually new one-handed helix formation in a racemic helical polymer composed of racemic repeating units through the deracemization of the pendants is described.
Topics: Polymers; Molecular Conformation
PubMed: 37853628
DOI: 10.2183/pjab.99.025 -
Biosensors & Bioelectronics Apr 2024Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are the equivalent of natural antibodies and have been widely used as synthetic receptors for the detection of disease biomarkers.... (Review)
Review
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are the equivalent of natural antibodies and have been widely used as synthetic receptors for the detection of disease biomarkers. Benefiting from their excellent chemical and physical stability, low-cost, relative ease of production, reusability, and high selectivity, MIP-based electrochemical sensors have attracted great interest in disease diagnosis and demonstrated superiority over other biosensing techniques. Here we compare various types of MIP-based electrochemical sensors with different working principles. We then evaluate the state-of-the-art achievements of the MIP-based electrochemical sensors for the detection of different biomarkers, including nucleic acids, proteins, saccharides, lipids, and other small molecules. The limitations, which prevent its successful translation into practical clinical settings, are outlined together with the potential solutions. At the end, we share our vision of the evolution of MIP-based electrochemical sensors with an outlook on the future of this promising biosensing technology.
Topics: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers; Biosensing Techniques; Polymers; Molecular Imprinting; Biomarkers; Electrochemical Techniques
PubMed: 38232451
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116018 -
Nature Communications Nov 2023The construction of polymer-based mimicry on cell surface to manipulate cell behaviors and functions offers promising prospects in the field of biotechnology and cell...
The construction of polymer-based mimicry on cell surface to manipulate cell behaviors and functions offers promising prospects in the field of biotechnology and cell therapy. However, precise control of polymer grafting sites is essential to successful implementation of biomimicry and functional modulation, which has been overlooked by most current research. Herein, we report a biological site-selected, in situ controlled radical polymerization platform for living cell surface engineering. The method utilizes metabolic labeling techniques to confine the growth sites of polymers and designs a Fenton-RAFT polymerization technique with cytocompatibility. Polymers grown at different sites (glycans, proteins, lipids) have different membrane retention time and exhibit differential effects on the recognition behaviors of cellular glycans. Of particular importance is the achievement of in situ copolymerization of glycomonomers on the outermost natural glycan sites of cell membrane, building a biomimetic glycocalyx with distinct recognition properties.
Topics: Polymerization; Cell Membrane; Glycocalyx; Polysaccharides; Polymers
PubMed: 37949881
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43161-x -
Biosensors Feb 2024Bimetallic coordination polymers (CPs) have two different metal ions as connecting nodes in their polymer structure. The synthesis methods of bimetallic CPs are mainly... (Review)
Review
Bimetallic coordination polymers (CPs) have two different metal ions as connecting nodes in their polymer structure. The synthesis methods of bimetallic CPs are mainly categorized into the one-pot method and post-synthesis modifications according to various needs. Compared with monometallic CPs, bimetallic CPs have synergistic effects and excellent properties, such as higher gas adsorption rate, more efficient catalytic properties, stronger luminescent properties, and more stable loading platforms, which have been widely applied in the fields of gas adsorption, catalysis, energy storage as well as conversion, and biosensing. In recent years, the study of bimetallic CPs synergized with cancer drugs and functional nanomaterials for the therapy of cancer has increasingly attracted the attention of scientists. This review presents the research progress of bimetallic CPs in biosensing and biomedicine in the last five years and provides a perspective for their future development.
Topics: Polymers; Nanostructures; Metals; Catalysis; Adsorption
PubMed: 38534224
DOI: 10.3390/bios14030117 -
Biosensors Jan 2024Early-stage detection and diagnosis of diseases is essential to the prompt commencement of treatment regimens, curbing the spread of the disease, and improving human... (Review)
Review
Early-stage detection and diagnosis of diseases is essential to the prompt commencement of treatment regimens, curbing the spread of the disease, and improving human health. Thus, the accurate detection of disease biomarkers through the development of robust, sensitive, and selective diagnostic tools has remained cutting-edge scientific research for decades. Due to their merits of being selective, stable, simple, and having a low preparation cost, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are increasingly becoming artificial substitutes for natural receptors in the design of state-of-the-art sensing devices. While there are different MIP preparation approaches, electrochemical synthesis presents a unique and outstanding method for chemical sensing applications, allowing the direct formation of the polymer on the transducer as well as simplicity in tuning the film properties, thus accelerating the trend in the design of commercial MIP-based sensors. This review evaluates recent achievements in the applications of electrosynthesized MIP sensors for clinical analysis of disease biomarkers, identifying major trends and highlighting interesting perspectives on the realization of commercial MIP-endowed testing devices for rapid determination of prevailing diseases.
Topics: Humans; Molecular Imprinting; Polymers; Molecularly Imprinted Polymers; Transducers; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38391990
DOI: 10.3390/bios14020071 -
ACS Sensors May 2024Bioanalyte collection by blood draw is a painful process, prone to needle phobia and injuries. Microneedles can be engineered to penetrate the epidermal skin barrier and... (Review)
Review
Bioanalyte collection by blood draw is a painful process, prone to needle phobia and injuries. Microneedles can be engineered to penetrate the epidermal skin barrier and collect analytes from the interstitial fluid, arising as a safe, painless, and effective alternative to hypodermic needles. Although there are plenty of reviews on the various types of microneedles and their use as drug delivery systems, there is a lack of systematization on the application of polymeric microneedles for diagnosis. In this review, we focus on the current state of the art of this field, while providing information on safety, preclinical and clinical trials, and market distribution, to outline what we believe will be the future of health monitoring.
Topics: Needles; Humans; Polymers; Drug Delivery Systems; Animals; Microinjections; Monitoring, Physiologic
PubMed: 38654679
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00612 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Feb 2024To inhibit viral infection, it is necessary for the surface of polypropylene (PP), a polymer of significant industrial relevance, to possess biocidal properties....
To inhibit viral infection, it is necessary for the surface of polypropylene (PP), a polymer of significant industrial relevance, to possess biocidal properties. However, due to its low surface energy, PP weakly interacts with other organic molecules. The biocidal effects of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have inspired the development of nonwoven PP fibers with surface-bound quaternary ammonium (QA). Despite this advancement, there is limited knowledge regarding the durability of these coatings against scratching and abrasion. It is hypothesized that the durability could be improved if the thickness of the coating layer were controlled and increased. We herein functionalized PP with three-dimensionally surface-grafted poly(-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) (PBVP) by a simple and rapid method involving graft polymerization and benzylation and examined the influence of different factors on the antiviral effect of the resulting plastic by using a plaque assay. The thickness of the PBVP coating, surface roughness, and amount of QACs, which jointly determine biocidal activity, could be controlled by adjusting the duration and intensity of the ultraviolet irradiation used for grafting. The best-performing sample reduced the viral infection titer of an enveloped model virus (bacteriophage ϕ6) by approximately 5 orders of magnitude after 60 min of contact and retained its antiviral activity after surface polishing-simulated scratching and abrasion, which indicated the localization of QACs across the coating interior. Our method may expand the scope of application to resin plates as well as fibers of PP. Given that the developed approach is not limited to PP and may be applied to other low-surface-energy olefinic polymers such as polyethylene and polybutene, our work paves the way for the fabrication of a wide range of biocidal surfaces for use in diverse environments, helping to prevent viral infection.
Topics: Humans; Polypropylenes; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Polymers; Virus Diseases; Antiviral Agents; Polyvinyls; Pyridinium Compounds; Vinyl Compounds
PubMed: 38343039
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15125 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Oct 2023Biodegradable polymers have shown enormous potential for application in food packaging systems and offer solutions to mitigate the challenges of single-use plastics.... (Review)
Review
Biodegradable polymers have shown enormous potential for application in food packaging systems and offer solutions to mitigate the challenges of single-use plastics. Over the past decade, advances in fermentation technology, metabolic engineering of microorganisms, and synthetic biology have enabled the optimization and functionalization of biodegradable polymers for food packaging application. This article provides an overview of the biotechnological approaches/methods used in advancing the production of biopolymers and summarizes the recent developments in the application of functionalized biopolymers for decision-making and quality control. It discusses the current applications and future perspectives of extracellular biopolymers in food systems. Finally, this review highlights the complexities of public acceptance, safety, and government regulations and legislations.
Topics: Food Packaging; Polymers; Biopolymers; Plastics; Biotechnology
PubMed: 37487401
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102972 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Therapeutic treatment forms can play significant roles in resolving psoriatic plaques or promoting wound repair in psoriatic skin. Considering the biocompatibility,...
Therapeutic treatment forms can play significant roles in resolving psoriatic plaques or promoting wound repair in psoriatic skin. Considering the biocompatibility, mechanical strength, flexibility, and adhesive properties of silk fibroin sheets/films, it is useful to combine them with anti-psoriatic agents and healing stimulants, notably silk sericin. Here, we evaluate the curative properties of sericin-coated thin polymeric films (ScF) fabricated from silk fibroin, using an imiquimod-induced psoriasis rat model. The film biocompatibility and psoriatic wound improvement capacity was assessed. A proteomics study was performed to understand the disease resolving mechanisms. Skin-implantation study exhibited the non-irritation property of ScF films, which alleviate eczema histopathology. Immunohistochemical and gene expression revealed the depletion of β-defensin, caspase-3 and -9, TNF-α, CCL-20, IL-1β, IL-17, TGF-β, and Wnt expressions and S100a14 mRNA level. The proteomics study suggested that ScF diminish keratinocyte proliferation via the mTOR pathway by downregulating mTOR protein, corresponding to the modulation of TNF-α, Wnt, and IL-1β levels, leading to the enhancement of anti-inflammatory environment by IL-17 downregulation. Hematology data demonstrated the safety of using these biomaterials, which provide a potential therapeutic-option for psoriasis treatment due to desirable effects, especially anti-proliferation and anti-inflammation, functioning via the mTOR pathway and control of IL-17 signaling.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Sericins; Interleukin-17; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Fibroins; Psoriasis; Skin; Inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Polymers; Keratinocytes
PubMed: 37495626
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39218-y -
Journal of Controlled Release :... Nov 2023Several chronic eye diseases affect the posterior segment of the eye. Among them age-related macular degeneration can cause vision loss if left untreated and is one of... (Review)
Review
Several chronic eye diseases affect the posterior segment of the eye. Among them age-related macular degeneration can cause vision loss if left untreated and is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the world. Most treatments are based on intravitreally injected therapeutics that inhibit the action of vascular endothelial growth factor. However, due to the need for monthly injections, this method is associated with poor patient compliance. To address this problem, numerous drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been developed. This review covers a selection of particulate systems, non-stimuli responsive hydrogels, implants, and composite systems that have been developed in the last few decades. Depending on the type of DDS, polymer material, and preparation method, different mechanical properties and drug release profiles can be achieved. Furthermore, DDS development can be optimized by implementing mathematical modeling of both drug release and pharmacokinetic aspects. Several existing mathematical models for diffusion-controlled, swelling-controlled, and erosion-controlled drug delivery from polymeric systems are summarized. Compartmental and physiologically based models for ocular drug transport and pharmacokinetics that have studied drug concentration profiles after intravitreal delivery or release from a DDS are also reviewed. The coupling of drug release models with ocular pharmacokinetic models can lead to obtaining much more efficient DDSs for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and other diseases of the posterior segment of the eye.
Topics: Humans; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Drug Delivery Systems; Wet Macular Degeneration; Hydrogels; Polymers; Intravitreal Injections
PubMed: 37774953
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.021