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Macromol
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Polymers in Nanocarrier Systems
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Polymers in Nanocarrier Systems

A special issue of Macromol (ISSN 2673-6209).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2023) | Viewed by 16068

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Aristeidis Papagiannopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece
Interests: nanostructured biomaterials; polysaccharide-based nanoparticles; hydrogels; biopolymer fluids; small angle scattering techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers are broadly used to produce nanocarriers of pharmaceutical and nutritional compounds and substances with combined properties, i.e., nutraceuticals and theranostics. They are amenable to chemical modification, they create soft structures that can accommodate bioactive compounds and live-matter and they may spontaneously self-assemble in nanostructures that can be used in a wide range of applications.  Polymer-based materials and nanomaterials are often designed to respond to external stimuli such as temperature and pH and, therefore, can be tuned to release their cargo under specified conditions. Macromolecular nanosystems are also used to carry biological macromolecules, e.g., proteins and genes, in many occasions making use of physical interactions, usually electrostatic and hydrophobic forces. In addition, polymeric nanosystems include coating and functionalization of quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles.

Currently, polymer nanocarriers investigations focus on micro/nano-particles/capsules/gels, hydrogels and nanocomposite materials with potential in tissue regeneration, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, wound healing, agrochemical industry, food science, etc. The Special Issue welcomes contributions related to nanomaterials that are based on natural, synthetic, or hybrid macromolecules and are designed as carriers of active compounds including (while not being restricted to) polymer synthesis, nanocarrier formation, characterization, encapsulation, and release of loaded compound and applications opportunities.

Dr. Aristeidis Papagiannopoulos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Nanoparticles
  • Nanogels
  • Hydrogels
  • Light scattering
  • Small-angle scattering
  • Synthesis
  • Self-assembly
  • Bioactive compounds
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Nutrients
  • Diagnostic

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2191 KiB  
Article
Cationic Polyelectrolytes Containing Perfluorinated Groups: Synthesis and Self-Assembly Properties in Aqueous Solutions
by Periklis Didaskalou, Martha Kafetzi and Stergios Pispas
Macromol 2022, 2(2), 194-210; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol2020013 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2088
Abstract
In this work, the synthesis and solution self-assembly of partially fluorinated cationic polyelectrolytes based on post-polymerization-modified poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate), incorporating hydrophobic fluorinated groups along the polymer chain, is reported. The post-polymerization modification aims to establish amphiphilic characteristics and strong polyelectrolyte properties to the [...] Read more.
In this work, the synthesis and solution self-assembly of partially fluorinated cationic polyelectrolytes based on post-polymerization-modified poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate), incorporating hydrophobic fluorinated groups along the polymer chain, is reported. The post-polymerization modification aims to establish amphiphilic characteristics and strong polyelectrolyte properties to the polymer. Therefore, the self-organization characteristics in aqueous media are expected to be affected. The poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) homopolymer precursor is synthesized using RAFT polymerization. A quaternization reaction on the amine side groups using heptadecafluoro-10-iododecane results in the poly((2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate-co-quaternized heptadecafluoro-10-iododecane (2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PQFD) amphiphilic statistical copolymers. We intentionally study statistical copolymers in our research of DMAEMA-based polyelectrolytes as there are not many studies about such materials. We have also chosen the incorporation of highly hydrophobic perfluorinated groups to study the changes in the solution properties of the initial hydrophilic homopolymer. The successful synthesis is supported by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), 1H-NMR, and FTIR experiments. The self-assembly of the copolymers in aqueous solutions along with the dependence of the properties of the resulting aggregates on the pH, temperature, and ionic strength of the solution are studied using light scattering methods (DLS, ELS) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). The structural characteristics of the aggregates depend on composition, solution preparation protocol and solution pH, and temperature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Nanocarrier Systems)
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24 pages, 36849 KiB  
Article
Poly(2-oxazoline)-Based Amphiphilic Gradient Copolymers as Nanocarriers for Losartan: Insights into Drug–Polymer Interactions
by Angeliki Chroni, Thomas Mavromoustakos and Stergios Pispas
Macromol 2021, 1(3), 177-200; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol1030014 - 1 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3952
Abstract
The current study is focused on the development of highly stable drug nanocarriers by encapsulating losartan potassium (LSR) into an amphiphilic biocompatible poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-grad-poly(2-phenyl-2-oxazoline) (PMeOxz72-grad-PPhOxz28) gradient copolymer (GC). Based on dynamic light scattering (DLS), the PMeOxz72-grad-PPhOxz28 (where [...] Read more.
The current study is focused on the development of highly stable drug nanocarriers by encapsulating losartan potassium (LSR) into an amphiphilic biocompatible poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-grad-poly(2-phenyl-2-oxazoline) (PMeOxz72-grad-PPhOxz28) gradient copolymer (GC). Based on dynamic light scattering (DLS), the PMeOxz72-grad-PPhOxz28 (where the subscripts denote %wt composition of the components) GC formed micelles and aggregates of 13 nm and 96 nm in aqueous milieu. The presence of hydrophobic LSR molecules altered the structural characteristics of the GC, modulating the organization of the polymeric components and revealing the formation of hyper micellar nanostructures in addition to micelles. The 2D-NOESY experiments evidenced intermolecular interactions between the phenyl ring of LSR with the phenyl group of PPhOxz and eminent correlations between the butyl chain of LSR with the phenyl group of PPhOxz and methylene group of PMeOxz, respectively. Additionally, NMR studies as a function of temperature demonstrated that the presence of hydrophilic PMeOxz segments in the gradient core of PMeOxz72-grad-PPhOxz28 nanoassemblies induced an increased fluidity of the core matrix, especially upon heating, thus causing water penetration, resulting in increased proton mobility. Lastly, the ultrasound release profile of LSR signified that a great amount of the encapsulated LSR is tightly bound to the PMeOxz72-grad-PPhOxz28 nanoassemblies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Nanocarrier Systems)
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18 pages, 1513 KiB  
Article
Effect of the Croton rhamnifolioides Essential Oil and the Inclusion Complex (OEFC/β-CD) in Antinociceptive Animal Models
by Anita Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra Martins, Maria Rayane Correia de Oliveira, Isabel Sousa Alcântara, Lindaiane Bezerra Rodrigues, Francisco Rafael Alves Santana Cesário, Maria Sanadia Alexandre da Silva, Fyama Ferreira e Castro, Emmily Petícia do Nascimento, Thaís Rodrigues de Albuquerque, Lucindo José Quintans Júnior, Adriano Antunes de Souza Araújo, Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho, Irwin Rose Alencar de Menezes and Almir Gonçalves Wanderley
Macromol 2021, 1(2), 94-111; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol1020008 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3193
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the C. rhamnifolioides leaf essential oil (OEFC) and the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (COEFC) and investigate the pain signaling pathways involved in the antinociceptive response. The effects of the OEFC and COEFC on the central [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the C. rhamnifolioides leaf essential oil (OEFC) and the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (COEFC) and investigate the pain signaling pathways involved in the antinociceptive response. The effects of the OEFC and COEFC on the central nervous system (CNS) were determined by open field and rota-rod assays, and the antinociceptive effect was evaluated via the acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions, formalin, and hot plate models. Swiss (Mus musculus) male mice (20–30 g) were used in both trials. The OEFC (200 mg/kg/v.o-orally) and COEFC (83.5 mg/kg/v.o.) did not present alterations in the CNS. The OEFC (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/vo.) and COEFC (8.35, 41.75, and 83.5 mg/kg/v.o.) demonstrated antinociceptive effects in the abdominal contortions, formalin, and hot plate tests. The OEFC (25 mg/kg/v.o.) and COEFC (8.35 mg/kg/v.o.) doses showed that the antinociceptive effect involves the activation of the opioid, cholinergic, and vanilloid systems, as well as the L-arginine/NO and α-2 adrenergic receptor pathways. The antinociceptive potential the OEFC and COEFC demonstrate possible alternatives for the therapy of pain. However, the COEFC presented more significant effects at lower doses than the isolated OEFC, where this action may be justified by the properties and advantages of the complexation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Nanocarrier Systems)
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Review

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18 pages, 3613 KiB  
Review
Current Research on Polyelectrolyte Nanostructures: From Molecular Interactions to Biomedical Applications
by Aristeidis Papagiannopoulos
Macromol 2021, 1(2), 155-172; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol1020012 - 24 May 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5734
Abstract
Polyelectrolytes have been at the center of interdisciplinary research for many decades. In the field of polymer science and soft matter, they have provided the dimensions of electrostatic interactions, which opens a vast variety of opportunities for new physical properties and applications. In [...] Read more.
Polyelectrolytes have been at the center of interdisciplinary research for many decades. In the field of polymer science and soft matter, they have provided the dimensions of electrostatic interactions, which opens a vast variety of opportunities for new physical properties and applications. In biological matter, polyelectrolytes are present in many forms, from extracellular polysaccharides to complex DNA molecules and proteins. This review discusses the recent research on polyelectrolytes covering the fundamental level of their conformations and nanostructures, their molecular interactions with materials that have close relevance to bioapplications and their applications in the biomedical field. This approach is motivated by the fact that the polyelectrolyte research is constantly active in all the aforementioned levels and continually affects many critical scientific areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Nanocarrier Systems)
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