Steffen van der Wal

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological properties of O-methyl free N,N,N-trimethylated chitosan

N,N,N-Trimethylated chitosan (TMC) with varying degree of quaternization (DQ) is currently being investigated in mucosal drug, vaccine and in gene delivery. However, besides N-methylation, O-methylation and chain scission occur during the synthesis of this polymer. Since both side reactions may affect the polymer characteristics, there is a need for TMCs without O-methylation and disparities in chain lengths while varying the DQ. In this study, O-methyl free TMC with varying DQs was successfully synthesized by using a two-step method. First, chitosan was quantitatively dimethylated using formic acid and formaldehyde. Then, in the presence of an excess amount of iodomethane, TMC was obtained with different DQs by varying reaction time. TMC obtained by this two-step method showed no detectable O-methylation ((1)H NMR) and a slight increase in molecular weight with increasing DQ (GPC), implying that no chain scission occurred during synthesis. The solubility in aqueous solutions at pH 7 of O-methyl free TMC with DQ<24% was less as compared to O-methylated TMC with the same DQ. On the other hand, O-methyl free TMC with DQ>33% had a good aqueous solubility. On Caco-2 cells, O-methyl free TMCs demonstrated a larger decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) than O-methylated TMCs. Also, with increasing DQ, an increase in cytotoxicity (MTT) and membrane permeability (LDH) was observed.

Glucocorticoid‐Loaded Core‐Cross‐Linked Polymeric Micelles with Tailorable Release Kinetics for Targeted Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Polymerizable and hydrolytically cleavable dexamethasone (DEX, red dot in picture) derivatives were covalently entrapped in core-cross-linked polymeric micelles that were prepared from a thermosensitive block copolymer (yellow and gray building block). By varying the oxidation degree of the thioether in the drug linker, the release rate of DEX could be controlled. The DEX-loaded micelles were used for efficient treatment of inflammatory arthritis in two animal models.

Tailorable Thiolated Trimethyl Chitosans for Covalently Stabilized Nanoparticles

A novel four-step method is presented to synthesize partially thiolated trimethylated chitosan (TMC) with a tailorable degree of quaternization and thiolation. First, chitosan was partially N-carboxylated with glyoxylic acid and sodium borohydride. Next, the remaining amines were quantitatively dimethylated with formaldehyde and sodium borohydride and then quaternized with iodomethane in NMP. Subsequently, these partially carboxylated TMCs dissolved in water were reacted with cystamine at pH 5.5 using EDC as coupling agent. After addition of DTT and dialysis, thiolated TMCs were obtained, varying in degree of quaternization (25-54%) and degree of thiolation (5-7%), as determined with (1)H NMR and Ellmans assay. Gel permeation chromatography with light scattering detection indicated limited intermolecular cross-linking. All thiolated TMCs showed rapid oxidation to yield disulfide cross-linked TMC at pH 7.4, while the thiolated polymers were rather stable at pH 4.0. When Calu-3 cells were used, XTT and LDH cell viability tests showed a slight reduction in cytotoxicity for thiolated TMCs as compared to the nonthiolated polymers with similar DQs. Positively charged nanoparticles loaded with fluorescently labeled ovalbumin were made from thiolated TMCs and thiolated hyaluronic acid. The stability of these particles was confirmed in 0.8 M NaCl, in contrast to particles made from nonthiolated polymers that dissociated under these conditions, demonstrating that the particles were held together by intermolecular disulfide bonds.

Protein macromonomers containing reduction-sensitive linkers for covalent immobilization and glutathione triggered release from dextran hydrogels

We report an efficient strategy to conjugate methacrylamide moieties to the lysine units of lysozyme for co-polymerization and subsequent triggered release from hydrogels. Two novel linker molecules, containing an ester bond and/or a disulfide bond for temporary immobilization, were synthesized and conjugated to lysozyme. Lysozyme was successfully modified with on average 2.5 linker molecules per protein molecule, as evidenced by MALDI-TOF and by titration of the free amine groups, while spectral analysis verified the preservation of the protein structure. Next, methacrylated dextran (Dex-MA) was polymerized in presence of native or modified lysozyme to yield hydrogels. The release of native and modified lysozyme from Dex-MA hydrogels was studied in acetate buffer (pH 5, in absence of any trigger) and only a minor fraction (~15%) of the modified lysozyme was released, whereas ~74% of the native lysozyme was released. This indicates successful immobilization of the majority of the modified lysozyme in the hydrogel network. Upon hydrolysis of the ester bonds or incubation with glutathione to reduce disulfide bonds of the linker molecules that conjugate the lysozyme to the gel network, the modified lysozyme was mobilized and released from the hydrogel to the same extent as native lysozyme. These data were confirmed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. This approach appeared to be highly interesting for temporary immobilization and subsequent glutathione triggered intracellular delivery of proteins from hydrogels.

Liposomes as carriers for colchicine-derived prodrugs: vascular disrupting nanomedicines with tailorable drug release kinetics

Newly formed tumor vasculature has proven to be an effective target for tumor therapy. A strategy to attack this angiogenic tumor vasculature is to initiate local blood vessel congestion and consequently induce massive tumor cell necrosis. Vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) typically bind to tubulin and consequently disrupt microtubule dynamics. Colchicine and its derivatives (colchicinoids) are very potent tubulin binding compounds but have a narrow therapeutic index, which may be improved by employing a liposomal targeting strategy. However, as a result of their physicochemical properties, colchicinoids are problematic to retain in liposomes, as they are released relatively rapidly upon encapsulation. To overcome this limitation, two hydrolyzable PEGylated derivatives of colchicine were developed for encapsulation into the aqueous core of long-circulating liposomes: a moderately rapid hydrolyzing PEGylated colchicinoid containing a glycolic acid linker (prodrug I), and a slower hydrolyzing PEGylated colchicinoid with a lactic acid linker (prodrug II). Hydrolysis studies at 37°C and pH 7.4 showed that prodrug I possessed relatively rapid conversion characteristics (t(1/2)=5.4 h) whereas prodrug II hydrolyzed much slower (t(1/2)=217 h). Upon encapsulation into liposomes, colchicine was released rapidly, whereas both PEGylated colchicine derivatives were efficiently retained and appeared to be released only after cleavage of the PEG-linker. This study therefore demonstrates that, in contrast to colchicine, these novel PEGylated colchicine-derived prodrugs are retained within the aqueous interior after encapsulation into liposomes, and that the release of the active parent can be controlled by using different biodegradable linkers.

Conjugation of Methacrylamide Groups to a Model Protein via a Reducible Linker for Immobilization and Subsequent Triggered Release from Hydrogels

An efficient strategy is reported to introduce methacrylamide groups on the lysine residues of a model protein (lysozyme) for immobilization and triggered release from a hydrogel network. A novel spacer unit was designed, containing a disulfide bond, such that the release of the protein can be triggered by reduction. The modified proteins were characterized by MALDI-TOF MS, titration of free NH(2) residues and spectral analysis. The modification reaction is well controlled, and the number of introduced functions can be tailored by changing the reaction conditions. Gel electrophoresis experiments showed that the methacrylamide modified protein can be immobilized in a polyacrylamide hydrogel and subsequently released by reduction of the spacer by which the protein was grafted to the polymeric network.

A polymeric colchicinoid prodrug with reduced toxicity and improved efficacy for vascular disruption in cancer therapy

Colchicinoids are very potent tubulin-binding compounds, which interfere with microtubule formation, giving them strong cytotoxic properties, such as cell mitosis inhibition and induction of microcytoskeleton depolymerization. While this makes them promising vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) in cancer therapy, their dose-limiting toxicity has prevented any clinical application for this purpose. Therefore, colchicinoids are considered attractive lead molecules for the development of novel vascular disrupting nanomedicine. In a previous study, a polymeric colchicinoid prodrug that showed favorable hydrolysis characteristics at physiological conditions was developed. In the current study, this polymeric colchicinoid prodrug was evaluated in vitro and in vivo for its toxicity and vascular disrupting potential. Cell viability studies with human umbilical vein endothelial cells, as an in vitro measure for colchicine activity, reflected the degradation kinetics of the prodrug accordingly. Upon intravenous treatment, in vivo, of B16F10 melanoma-bearing mice with colchicine or with the polymeric colchicinoid prodrug, apparent vascular disruption and consequent tumor necrosis was observed for the prodrug but not for free colchicine at an equivalent dose. Moreover, a five-times-higher dose of the prodrug was well tolerated, indicating reduced toxicity. These findings demonstrate that the polymeric colchicinoid prodrug has a substantially improved efficacy/toxicity ratio compared with that of colchicine, making it a promising VDA for cancer therapy.

Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity, and Membrane Permeabilizing Properties of C-Terminally Modified Nisin Conjugates Accessed by CuAAC

Functionalization of the lantibiotic nisin with fluorescent reporter molecules is highly important for the understanding of its mode of action as a potent antimicrobial peptide. In addition to this, multimerization of nisin to obtain multivalent peptide constructs and conjugation of nisin to bioactive molecules or grafting it on surfaces can be attractive methods for interference with bacterial growth. Here, we report a convenient method for the synthesis of such nisin conjugates and show that these nisin derivatives retain both their antimicrobial activity and their membrane permeabilizing properties. The synthesis is based on the Cu(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) as a bioorthogonal ligation method for large and unprotected peptides in which nisin was C-terminally modified with propargylamine and subsequently efficiently conjugated to a series of functionalized azides. Two fluorescently labeled nisin conjugates together with a dimeric nisin construct were prepared while membrane insertion as well as antimicrobial activity were unaffected by these modifications. This study shows that C-terminal modification of nisin does not deteriorate biological activity in sharp contrast to N-terminal modification and therefore C-terminally modified nisin analogues are valuable tools to study the antibacterial mode of action of nisin. Furthermore, the ability to use stoichiometric amounts of the azide containing molecule opens up possibilities for surface tethering and more complex multivalent structures.

Synthesis and evaluation of linear CuAAC-oligomerized antifreeze neo-glycopeptides

Antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) are important naturally occurring biological antifreezes that lower the freezing point of a solution, thereby preventing uncontrolled ice growth. These compounds also inhibit ice recrystallization. Described in this paper is a synthetic antifreeze glycopeptide-based polymer synthesized from an azide/alkyne glycopeptide building block by partial reduction of the azide and subsequent copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) polymerization to obtain linear oligomers. To compare the activity with native AFGPs, a linear dodecapeptide (oligomer with four repeating units) was synthesized and isolated which had a comparable length to AFGP-8, the lowest molecular mass glycoprotein AFGP found in nature. In terms of ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity, the triazole-based oligomers displayed only modest IRI activity compared with AFGP-8 and a previously described carbon-linked AFGP analogue. However, CD spectroscopy showed that the triazole-based tetramer possessed a similar secondary structure to the related amide based carbon-linked AFGP tetramer based on AFGP-8.

Versatile convergent synthesis of a three peptide loop containing protein mimic of whooping cough pertactin by successive Cu(I)-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition on an orthogonal alkyne functionalized TAC-scaffold.

Synthetic mimics of discontinuous epitopes may have a wide range of potential applications, including synthetic vaccines and inhibition of protein–protein interactions. However, synthetic access to these relatively complex peptide molecular constructs is limited. This paper describes a versatile convergent strategy for the construction of protein mimics presenting three different cyclic peptides. Using an orthogonal alkyne protection strategy, peptide loops were introduced successively onto a triazacyclophane scaffold via Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition. This method provides rapid access to protein mimics requiring different peptide segments for their interaction and activity. Copyright