Growing resistance to traditional antibiotics poses a global threat to public health. In this regard, modification of known antibiotics, but with limited applications due to side effects, is one of the extremely promising approaches at present. In this study, we proposed the synthesis of novel complex polymeric conjugates of the peptide antibiotic colistin (CT). A biocompatible and water-soluble synthetic glycopolymer, namely, poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose) (PMAG), was used as a polymer carrier. In addition to monoconjugates containing CT linked to PMAG by hydrolyzable and stable bonds, a set of complex conjugates also containing the siderophore deferoxamine (DFOA) and vitamin B12 was developed. The structures of the conjugates were confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR-spectroscopy, while the compositions of conjugates were determined by UV–Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis. The buffer media with pH 7.4, corresponding to blood or ileum pH, and 5.2, corresponding to the intestinal pH after ingestion or pH in the focus of inflammation, were used to study the release of CT. The resulting conjugates were examined for cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. All conjugates showed less cytotoxicity than free colistin. A Caco-2 cell permeability assay was carried out for complex conjugates to simulate the drug absorption in the intestine. In contrast to free CT, which showed very low permeability through the Caco-2 monolayer, the complex polymeric conjugates of vitamin B12 and CT provided significant transport. The antimicrobial activity of the conjugates depended on the conjugate composition. It was found that conjugates containing CT linked to the polymer by a hydrolyzable bond were found to be more active than conjugates with a non-hydrolyzable bond between CT and PMAG. Conjugates containing DFOA complexed with Fe3+ were characterized by enhanced antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to other conjugates.

As a promising polymer for the production of biomaterials and drug delivery systems, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is characterized by its relative hydrophobicity, as well as its chemical and biological inertness. Here, we aimed to improve the biological properties of PLA-based materials via the covalent attachment of a hydrophilic biocompatible glycopolymer, namely poly(2-deoxy-N-methacrylamido-D-glucose) (PMAG) on their surface. PMAG is a water-soluble polymer that contains glucose units in its side chains, which are responsible for good biocompatibility and the ability to attach bioactive molecules. In the developed protocol, PMAG was synthesized by controlled radical polymerization in the presence of a reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, followed by the conversion of glycopolymer terminal dithiobenzoate functionality into a primary amino group (PMAG-NH2). PLA-based films served as model aliphatic polyester materials for developing the surface biofunctionalization protocol. According to that, PMAG-NH2 covalent immobilization was carried out after alkali treatment, allowing the generation of the surface-located carboxyl groups and their activation. The developed modification method provided a one-point attachment of hydrophilic PMAG to the hydrophobic PLA surface. PMAG samples, which differed by the degree of polymerization, and the variation of polymer concentration in the reaction medium were applied to investigate the modification efficacy and grafting density. The developed single-point polymer grafting approach provided the efficient functionalization with a grafting density in the range of 5–23 nmol/cm2. The neat and modified polymer films were characterized by a number of methods, namely atomic force microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. In addition, an ArgGlyAsp-containing peptide (RGD peptide) was conjugated to the PMAG macromolecules grafted on the surface of PLA films. It was shown that both surface modification with PMAG and with PMAG-RGD peptide enhanced the adhesion and growth of mesenchymal stem cells as compared to a neat PLA surface.

The emergence and growth of bacterial resistance to antibiotics poses an enormous threat to humanity in the future. In this regard, the discovery of new antibiotics and the improvement of existing ones is a priority task. In this study, we proposed the synthesis of new polymeric conjugates of polymyxin B, which is a clinically approved but limited-use peptide antibiotic. In particular, three carboxylate-bearing polymers and one synthetic glycopolymer were selected for conjugation with polymyxin B (PMX B), namely, poly(α,L-glutamic acid) (PGlu), copolymer of L-glutamic acid and L-phenylalanine (P(Glu-co-Phe)), copolymer of N-vinyl succinamic acid and N-vinylsuccinimide (P(VSAA-co-VSI)), and poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose) (PMAG). Unlike PGlu and PMAG, P(Glu-co-Phe) and P(VSAA-co-VSI) are amphiphilic and form nanoparticles in aqueous media. A number of conjugates with different polymyxin B loading were synthesized and characterized. In addition, the complex conjugates of PGLu or PMAG with polymyxin B and deferoxamine (siderophore) were obtained. A release of PMX B from Schiff base and amide-linked polymer conjugates was studied in model buffer media with pH 7.4 and 5.8. In both cases, a more pronounced release was observed under slightly acidic conditions. The cytotoxicity of free polymers and PMX B as well as their conjugates was examined in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293T cell line). All conjugates demonstrated reduced cytotoxicity compared to the free antibiotic. Finally, the antimicrobial efficacy of the conjugates against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined and compared. The lowest values of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were observed for polymyxin B and polymyxin B/deferoxamine conjugated with PMAG. Among the polymers tested, PMAG appears to be the most promising carrier for delivery of PMX B in conjugated form due to the good preservation of the antimicrobial properties of PMX B and the ability of controlled drug release.

In this research, the development and investigation of novel nanoobjects based on biodegradable random polypeptides and synthetic non-degradable glycopolymer poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-d-glucose) were proposed as drug delivery systems. Two different approaches have been applied for preparation of such nanomaterials. The first one includes the synthesis of block-random copolymers consisting of polypeptide and glycopolymer and capable of self-assembly into polymer particles. The synthesis of copolymers was performed using sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and ring-opening polymerization (ROP) techniques. Amphiphilic poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-d-glucose)-b-poly(l-lysine-co-l-phenylalanine) (PMAG-b-P(Lys-co-Phe)) copolymers were then used for preparation of self-assembled nanoparticles. Another approach for the formation of polypeptide-glycopolymer particles was based on the post-modification of preformed polypeptide particles with an oxidized glycopolymer. The conjugation of the polysaccharide on the surface of the particles was achieved by the interaction of the aldehyde groups of the oxidized glycopolymer with the amino groups of the polymer on particle surface, followed by the reduction of the formed Schiff base with sodium borohydride. A comparative study of polymer nanoparticles developed with its cationic analogues based on random P(Lys-co-d-Phe), as well as an anionic one—P(Lys-co-d-Phe) covered with heparin––was carried out. In vitro antitumor activity of novel paclitaxel-loaded PMAG-b-P(Lys-co-Phe)-based particles towards A549 (human lung carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cells was comparable to the commercially available Paclitaxel-LANS.

The self-assembly of amphiphilic block-copolymers is a convenient way to obtain soft nanomaterials of different morphology and scale. In turn, the use of a biomimetic approach makes it possible to synthesize polymers with fragments similar to natural macromolecules but more resistant to biodegradation. In this study, we synthesized the novel bio-inspired amphiphilic block-copolymers consisting of poly(N-methacrylamido-d-glucose) or poly(N-vinyl succinamic acid) as a hydrophilic fragment and poly(O-cholesteryl methacrylate) as a hydrophobic fragment. Block-copolymers were synthesized by radical addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization using dithiobenzoate or trithiocarbonate chain-transfer agent depending on the first monomer, further forming the hydrophilic block. Both homopolymers and copolymers were characterized by 1H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric analysis. The obtained copolymers had low dispersity (1.05–1.37) and molecular weights in the range of ~13,000–32,000. The amphiphilic copolymers demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in comparison with hydrophilic precursors. According to dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking analysis, the obtained amphiphilic copolymers were able to self-assemble in aqueous media into nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 200 nm. An investigation of nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy revealed their spherical shape. The obtained nanoparticles did not demonstrate cytotoxicity against human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells, and they were characterized by a low uptake by macrophages in vitro. Paclitaxel loaded into the developed polymer nanoparticles retained biological activity against lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549).

In this work, a method to prepare hybrid amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of biocompatible synthetic glycopolymer with non-degradable backbone and biodegradable poly(amino acid) (PAA) was developed. The glycopolymer, poly(2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose) (PMAG), was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Two methods for modifying the terminal dithiobenzoate-group of PMAG was investigated to obtain the macroinitiator bearing a primary aliphatic amino group, which is required for ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides of hydrophobic α-amino acids. The synthesized amphiphilic block copolymers were carefully analyzed using a set of different physico-chemical methods to establish their composition and molecular weight. The developed amphiphilic copolymers tended to self-assemble in nanoparticles of different morphology that depended on the nature of the hydrophobic amino acid present in the copolymer. The hydrodynamic diameter, morphology, and cytotoxicity of polymer particles based on PMAG-b-PAA were evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as CellTiter-Blue (CTB) assay, respectively. The redox-responsive properties of nanoparticles were evaluated in the presence of glutathione taken at different concentrations. Moreover, the encapsulation of paclitaxel into PMAG-b-PAA particles and their cytotoxicity on human lung carcinoma cells (A549) and human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) were studied.

A procedure has been developed for the synthesis of gold glyconanoparticles with an average particle size of 15–30 nm and a low polydispersity index on the basis of natural hexose ( d -glucose, d -galactose, d -mannose) sulfanylacetyl-, 3-sulfanylpropanoyl-, and 2-sulfanylbenzoylhydrazones and thiolated poly(2-deoxy-2-methacryloylamino- d -glucose).

•The fundamental aspects of RAFT polymerization of MAG was studied.•The living character of polymerization was proved by the further chain extension.•A pathway to prepare block copolymers of glycopolymer and polypeptide was suggested.•PMAG-b-PPhe is self-assembled into narrowly dispersed polymeric micelles.•PMAG-b-PPhe-based micelles have a high potency as novel soft biomaterials.

The macroporous monolithic stationary phase was elaborated for the efficient solid-phase extraction of cholesterol from aqueous media. The advantages of the developed monolithic materials as compared with the bead-based columns of the same functionality were demonstrated.

УДК 541.65 Вестник СПбГУ.Сер. 4. Т. 3 (61).2016.Вып. 41 Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет, Российская Федерация, 199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9 2 Институт высокомолекулярных соединений РАН, Российская Федерация, 199004, Санкт-Петербург, Большой пр.В. О., 31 Методами вискозиметрии и динамического рассеяния света (ДРС) исследованы молекулярные свойства новых синтетических биосовместимых сополимеров.Объектами изучения были сополимер 2-деокси-2-метакриламидо-D-глюкозы с акриловой кислотой (МАГ-АК) и его аналог, модифицированный бета

A method based on the ability of transition-metal ions to quench the fluorescence of labeled polymer molecules is developed to determine the equilibrium stability constants of macromolecular complexes of Ag + , Cu 2+ , and Ni 2+ with the copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido- D -glucose and unsaturated carboxylic acids (methacrylic or acrylic) in aqueous and aqueous–saline media. The stability constants of the complexes strongly depend on the type of transition-metal, the copolymer composition, and the ionic strength of solution, but weakly depend on the type of introduced low-molecular-mass electrolyte and the chemical structure of the carboxyl-containing units.

Water-soluble neutral and charged copolymers of cholesterol methacrylate with 2-deoxy2-methacrylamido-D-glucose and methyl sulfate salt of N , N , N -trimethyl(aminoethyl methacrylate) and β-cyclodextrin-containing polymers of different compositions were synthesized. The interactions of the “dark” and luminescence-labeled copolymers with models of lowmolecular-weight hydrophobic compounds (cholesterol and acridine orange) and of highmolecular-weight biologically active compounds containing hydrophobic fragments with bovine serum albumin were studied by the method of polarized luminescence. Cholesteroland β-cyclodextrin-containing polymers actively bind these compounds by inclusion them into hydrophobic domains or due to the formation of host–guest complexes. The variation of the polymer structure makes it possible to control the degree of binding. The synthesized polymers are promising carriers of hydrophobic substances and can further serve as a basis for manufacturing systems for control of the level of hydrophobic substances in aqueous solutions and biological liquids.

Hydrodynamic properties of the homologous series of the homopolymer 2-deoxy-2-methacryla-mido-D-glucose and the copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose with unsaturated acids in 0.2 M NaCl are studied via static and dynamic light scattering, viscometry, refractometry, and translational diffusion. The copolymers synthesized via the free-radical copolymerization of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid contain ∼20 mol % acid units. At this amount of acid units, the equilibrium rigidity of copolymer chains corresponds to that of homopolymer chains. The copolymers are distinguished by the hydrodynamic characteristics of molecules. The copolymer with methacrylic acid is similar to the homopolymer, whereas the copolymer with acrylic acid features substantially different parameters of relationships relating the hydrodynamic characteristics of homologs to their molecular masses.

With the use of polarized luminescence, relaxation times characterizing the intramolecular mobility of luminescent labeled copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose and unsaturated acids in solutions are determined in both nonionized and ionized states. Elements of the secondary structure typical for poly(methacrylic acid) are formed in copolymers with a high content of methacrylic acid (≥50 mol %) in their nonionized state. This structure is destroyed during ionization. Equilibrium stability constants for complexes of the copolymers with cationic surfactants are determined. Quantitative characteristics of the effects of the surfactant and copolymer structures and the ionic strength of solution on complex formation are estimated.

The dynamic light scattering method was used to study the process of complex formation of cholesterol-containing polymers of vinylsaccharide 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose (double and ternary copolymers) in water solutions in the different polymer mole ratio. Compared to the initial ternary cholesterol-containing copolymer the conditions of compaction of the complex formed are found.