Ananiy Kohut

Thermoresponsive latexes for fragrance encapsulation and release

To synthesize cross‐linked latex particles protecting the encapsulated fragrance at ambient temperatures and facilitating the release of cargo at the temperature of the surface of the skin that varies in different regions of the body between 33.5 and 36.9°C. Poly(stearyl acrylate) (PSA), a polymer with long crystallizable alkyl side chains (undergoes order–disorder transitions at 45°C), was chosen as the main component of the polymer particles. As a result, new thermoresponsive polymer particles for fragrance encapsulation were synthesized and characterized, including assessing the performance of particles in triggered release by elevated temperature.

Anticancer efficiency of curcumin-loaded invertible polymer micellar nanoassemblies

Abstract Recently synthesized amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs) are considered as good candidates for micellar delivery of hydrophobic (poorly water-soluble) drugs. Macromolecules of the AIPs self-assemble into invertible micellar assemblies (IMAs) by increasing polymer concentration in solution, and are capable of inverting macromolecular conformation by changing solvent polarity. Being nontoxic against human cells, IMAs are able to solubilize, deliver, and release poorly water-soluble curcumin to treat osteosarcoma cells. The loading into micellar polymer nanoassemblies significantly improves the bioavailability of curcumin in aqueous medium. The mechanism of curcumin release from IMAs depends on AIP chemical structure and might result from macromolecular inversion only, due to changing polarity of the environment. Loaded with curcumin IMAs are stable in aqueous (polar) medium. However, once the drug-loaded assemblies approach cell membrane (less polar), it triggers the macromolecular inversion and drug release due to the enhanced interactions between the membrane and the drug.

Amphiphilic Invertible Polymers and Their Applications

Amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs) are novel smart macromolecules. Synthesized from short lipophilic and hydrophilic constituents that are alternately or randomly distributed along the polymer backbone, the AIP macromolecules possess an enhanced flexibility and rapidly respond to changes in an environmental polarity by changing their macromolecular conformation. By increasing a solution concentration, the AIP macromolecules self-organize into micellar assemblies that can change their physicochemical properties in response to changes in a medium polarity. The micellar assemblies from AIPs can be applied for the development of smart nanoreactors for the synthesis of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles of a controlled shape and size, as well as for the growth of fibrillar carbon nanostructures and the formation of smart nanocontainers for drug delivery. Synthetic routes to (1) amphiphilic invertible polyurethanes based on poly(ethylene glycol), polytetrahydrofuran, and 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate and (2) amphiphilic invertible polyesters based on poly(ethylene glycol) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids were elaborated, and the corresponding polymers were successfully synthesized. The effect of reaction conditions on the reaction course and the macromolecular configuration of the resulting polymers were revealed. It was demonstrated that the chemical nature and structure of the macromolecules of the amphiphilic invertible polyurethanes and polyesters determine the self-assembly of the AIP macromolecules, both in an aqueous and organic media, resulting in a formation of micellar assemblies, which can serve as nanoreactors, nanocontainers, and nanocarriers.

Curcumin and Osteosarcoma: Can Invertible Polymeric Micelles Help?

Systematic review of experimental and clinical data on the use of curcumin in the treatment of osteosarcoma is presented. The current status of curcumin’s therapeutic potential against bone cancer is analyzed in regard to using polymeric micelles (including recently developed invertible, responsive, micelles) as a platform for curcumin delivery to treat osteosarcoma. The potential of micellar assemblies from responsive macromolecules in a controlled delivery of curcumin to osteosarcoma cells, and the release using a new inversion mechanism is revealed.