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Hyperbranched Polyglycerol/poly-N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide
Copolymers for Potential Use in Controlled Drug Delivery
Charles A. Jones, III
September 1, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract 2
Introduction 3
Proposed Research 6
Synthesis and Characterization 7
Hyperbranched Polyglycerol 7
Monomeric Drug Conjugate 8
End-functionalized PHPMA Copolymer Precursor 9
HPG-PHPMA Copolymer Drug Conjugates 10
Cytotoxicity Assay 11
In vitro Release Studies 11
Conclusion 12
References 13
Description of Dissertation Research 14
Abstract
This research proposal outlines the strategy for synthesis and characterization of star-like copolymer materials based on drug conjugated poly-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide and hyperbranched polyglycerols. A preliminary assessment of the capabilities of these materials as delivery devices for anticancer drugs will be obtained through cytotoxicity evaluations and in vitro release studies. TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u INTRODUCTION
The use of functionalized polymers as scaffolds for the delivery of drugs is an area of research that has seen considerable growth during the past decade. ADDIN EN.CITE Uhrich199910Uhrich, K. E.Cannizzaro, S. M.Langer, R. S.Shakesheff, K. M.1999Polymeric systems for controlled drug releaseChem. Rev.993181-3198Mathowitz199929Mathowitz, E.1999Encyclopedia of Controlled Drug DeliveryNew YorkJohn Wiley and Sons1-2Chasin199560Chasin, M.1995Biomed. Appl. Synth. Biodegrad. Polym.1-151-3 Drugs in polymeric form offer several advantages over their monomeric precursors, including longer retention time in the body, lower toxicity, and a greater specificity of action. The treatment of cancer lends itself particularly well to this form of therapy, due in large part to enhanced permeability and retention of macromolecules by cancerous tumors. The basis of this phenomenon, known as the EPR effect, can be traced to enhanced tumor vascular permeability combined with a substantial decrease in the tumor lymphatic drainage system. ADDIN EN.CITE Duncan199940Duncan, R.1999Pharm. Sci. Technol. Today2441-4494
Currently, many polymer-based drug delivery systems rely on grafting pharmaceutically active molecules to the backbones of water-soluble polymers such as poly-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (PHPMA). ADDIN EN.CITE Tijerina200090Tijerina, M.Fowers, K. D.Kopecek, J.Kopecek, P.2000Biomaterials212203-2210Rihova1989140Rihova, B.Ulbrich, K.Strohalm, J.Vetvicka, V.Bilej, R.Duncan, R.Kopecek, J.1989Biocompatibility of HPMA Copolymer ConjugatesBiomaterials10335-342Putnam1995290Putnam, D.Kopecek, J.1995Polymer conjugates with anticancer activityAdv. Polym. Sci.12255-1235-7 PHPMA copolymer drug conjugates have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated as anticancer drug carriers. A PHMA copolymer-doxirubicin (DOX) conjugate (PK1) has successfully passed phase I and phase II clinical trials. The attachment of drugs to water-soluble PHPMA polymers increases the aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs, reduces their side effects, and may overcome multi-drug resistance. Although these systems are inherently biocompatible, they can often suffer from limited functionalizability and broad molecular weight distributions caused by crosslinking and branching of functionalized precursors. Star-like HPMA copolymers might have potential as new drug delivery systems. Their unique structures may have some interesting properties that are different from their linear counterparts such as lower viscosity in solution as well as the possibility of attaching more than one drug and/or a drug with a targeting moiety to the same carrier. Ulbrich first reported star-like HPMA copolymer containing doxorubicin (DOX) using an antibody as the core. ADDIN EN.CITE Ulbrich1997170Ulbrich, K.Pechar, M.Strohalm, J.Subr, V.1997Polymeric Carriers of Drugs for Site-specific TherapyMacromol. Symp.118577-5858 The targeting activity of the conjugated antibody was reported to be only slightly affected. More recently, Wang and co-workers have reported the synthesis of star-like HPMA copolymers using commercially available (but very expensive) Starburst PAMAM dendrimers as the core. ADDIN EN.CITE Wang200270Wang, D.Kopeckova, P.Minko, T.Nanayakkara, V.Kopecek, J.2002Synthesis of Starlike N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide Copolymers: Potential Drug CarriersBiomacromolecules13313-3199 Cytotoxicity of the DOX conjugated macromolecules was lower when compared to the cytotoxicity of linear HPMA-DOX copolymer conjugates.
Dendrimers have received immense interest from academic as well as industrial researchers for many applications including controlled drug delivery. Meijer and coworkers first reported encapsulation ADDIN EN.CITE Meijer1994190Meijer, E. W.Jansen, J. F. G. A.de Brabander-van den Berg, E. M. M.1994Science2661226-122910 and selective release ADDIN EN.CITE Jansen1995200Jansen, J. F. G. A.Meijer, E. W.de Brabander-van den Berg, E. M. M.1995J. Am. Chem. Soc.1174417-1811 of polar guest molecules by a dendritic core-shell architecture with a dense apolar shell. The problem of this system for drug delivery is high hydrophobicity. More recently, water-soluble drug-delivery systems with reversed core-shell polarity based on dendritic polymers have been developed and utilized in the encapsulation of antitumor drugs adriamycin and methotrexate. ADDIN EN.CITE Kojima2000230Kojima, C.Kono, K.Maruyama, K.Takagishi, T.2000Bioconjugate Chem.11910-1712 Owing to their high surface functionality, dendritic glycopolymers have been considered as scaffolds for polyvalent drugs. ADDIN EN.CITE Mammen1998210Mammen, M.Choi, S. K.Whitesides, G. M.1998Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.372754-9413 Various dendrimer structures with multivalent carbohydrate moieties attached at the periphery have been investigated. ADDIN EN.CITE Rockendorf2001220Rockendorf, N.Lindhorst, T. K.2001GlycodendrimersTop. Curr. Chem.21798-13514 Despite abundant interest, commercial applications of these perfectly branched materials are scarce, since the tedious multi-step synthesis result in unacceptable costs for most applications.
Hyperbranched materials also contain a large number of branches, but they are not perfectly (i.e. absolutely regularly) branched. In this respect their structure can be compared to a tree, which also contains larger and smaller branches. In contrast to dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers can be prepared conveniently in one step procedures. However, due to extremely broad molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn>5) and undesired side reactions, such polymers were regarded as very ill-defined materials. The simultaneous presence of large fractions of low and high molecular weight polymers is not acceptable for most applications.
Recently a new concept was introduced that is based on the use of latent ABm monomers, wherein B-groups are set free only upon reaction of the A group, permitting control of molecular weights of the respective hyperbranched polymer (Figure 1). This concept has been adapted in the development of a convenient pathway to well-defined hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPG) based on the anionic polymerization of a latent AB2-type glycidol monomer under slow monomer addition conditions (called ring-opening multibranching polymerization, ROMBP). Due to the controlled polymerization conditions, the monomer exclusively reacts with the growing multifunctional hyperbranched polymer, leading to well-defined growth of the macromolecules in a living type of polymerization. A rapid proton exchange equilibrium maintains all hydroxyl groups present as potentially active propagations sites, thus leading to random branching. A major benefit of the approach lies in the fact that the number average molecular weights (Mn) can be controlled by the monomer/initiator ratio in the range between 1,000 and 10,000 g/mol with polydispersities often below 1.3.
Figure 1. Polymerization of latent AB2 monomers with reversible activation of B-groups.
HPGs possess an inert polyether scaffold. Each branch ends in a hydroxyl-function, which renders HPG a highly functional material, whereas a molecule with a molecular weight of 5,000 g/mol possesses 68 hydroxyl end groups. The high functionality in combination with the versatile and well-investigated reactivity of hydroxyl-groups is the basis for a variety of derivatives. Selective modification can be achieved utilizing the reactivity of 1,2-diol units located at the periphery of the molecule. Complementary to functionalization by reactions of the large number of hydroxyl-groups, all polyglycerols possess the initiator as incorporated core functionality. Thus it is possible to tailor materials suitable for many applications. ADDIN EN.CITE Frey2002260Frey, H.Haag, R.2002Dendritic polyglycerol: a new versatile biocompatible materialRev. Molec. Biotech.90257-26715 Ketal-functionalized HPGs have been used for the encapsulation and transportation of polar guests (dyes and drugs) by creation of special microenvironments at the core of the molecule. ADDIN EN.CITE Haag2001240Haag, R.Kramer, M.Stumbe, J. F.Kautz, H.2001Polymeric nanocapsules based on core-shell-type architectures in hyperbranched polyglycerolsPolym. Mat. Sci. Eng.846916 Well-defined biodegradable or biocompatible star polymers with polycaprolactam arms can be prepared using HPG or propoxylated HPG as a multifunctional initiator core to initiate polymerization of other monomers in a core first approach. ADDIN EN.CITE Burgath2000250Burgath, A.Sunder, A.Neuner, I.Mulhaupt, R.Frey, H.2000PCL-Multiarm star polymers based on polyglycerolMacromol. Chem. Phys.201792-79717 Such materials are promising with respect to slow or controlled drug release. Mammen has even used HPGs as polymeric support for multivalent drugs. ADDIN EN.CITE Mammen1998270Mammen, M.Choi, S. K.Whitesides, G. M.1998Polyvalent interactions in biological systems: implications for design and use of multivalent ligands and inhibitorsAngew. Chem.1102908-295318
Due to the biocompatible properties of the aliphatic polyethers in general, similar properties are expected for HPG. Preliminary cell culture experiments with HPG (Mn=5, 000 g/mol) did not show any toxicity so far and further animal studies are in progress using radio-labeled HPGs. ADDIN EN.CITE Frey2002260Frey, H.Haag, R.2002Dendritic polyglycerol: a new versatile biocompatible materialRev. Molec. Biotech.90257-26715 In addition, oligoglycerols (2-10 monomer units) have been studied in detail with respect to their biological properties and are approved for use in foods and pharmaceuticals by the FDA. ADDIN EN.CITE Wilson1998280Wilson, R.Schie, B. J. V.Howes, D.1998Overview of the preparation, use and biological studies on polyglycerol polyricinoleateFood Chem. Toxicol.36711-71819
PROPOSED RESEARCH
The focus of this research will be the synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxic evaluation of water-soluble star-like HPMA copolymer-drug conjugates containing doxorubicin using HPGs as the core. HPGs of various molecular weights will be synthesized via newly developed controlled synthetic techniques and will serve as a stable, biocompatible polyether scaffold with high end group functionality. Precursor HPMA copolymer drug conjugates will be synthesized with a functionalized end group suitable for attachment to the HPMA core. Subsequent attachment of the HPMA precursors of various molecular weights to HPGs of various molecular weights will yield a series of star-like copolymer drug conjugates for comparison. Each star-like copolymer will be fully characterized and subjected to a cytotoxic evaluation of human cancer cell lines. The rates of in vitro drug release will also be assessed. This research represents the opportunity to generate new water-soluble dendritic copolymers for the controlled delivery of extremely high concentrations of drugs without the tedious multi-step synthesis or expense of real dendrimers.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION
Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polyglycerols
HPGs will be synthesized by controlled anionic ROMBP of glycidol making use of a partially deprotonated triol as alkoxide initiator. 1,1,1-Tris(hydroxylmethyl)propane is partially deprotonated (10%) with potassium methylate solution by distilling off excess methanol from the melt. ADDIN EN.CITE Sunder1999130Sunder, A.Hanselmann, R.Frey, H.Mulhaupt, R.1999Controlled Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polyglycerols by Ring-Opening Multibranching PolymerizationMacromolecules32134240-424620 Glycidol is slowly added at 95 oC over 12 h, choosing the initiator amount according to the monomer/initiator ratio. After the epoxide supply is fully reacted, the product will be dissolved in methanol and neutralized by filtration over cation exchange resin. The polymer will be purified by precipitating twice from methanol solution into acetone and subsequently drying overnight at 80 oC in vacuo. The transparent, viscous liquids will be characterized by 1H and 13C NMR to determine the degree of polymerization and the extent of branching. HPG molecular weights in the range between of 1,000 and 5,000 g/mol (representing a degree of
polymerization of 15-75 glycidol units) will be targeted by choosing the appropriate monomer/initiator ratio and verified along with molecular weight distribution by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). EMBED ChemDraw.Document.6.0
Scheme 1. Synthesis of HPGs via ROMBP of glycidol monomers.
Synthesis of MA-GFLG-DOX
A DOX containing monomer with a biodegradable oligopeptide spacer that is suitable for free radical copolymerization will be synthesized by the following procedure. ADDIN EN.CITE Rihova1989140Rihova, B.Ulbrich, K.Strohalm, J.Vetvicka, V.Bilej, R.Duncan, R.Kopecek, J.1989Biocompatibility of HPMA Copolymer ConjugatesBiomaterials10335-3426 Leucylglycine (LG) and NaHCO3 will be dissolved in water and this solution added to a solution of N-methacryloylglycylphenylalanyl p-nitrophenyl ester (MA-GF) in a solution of dioxan. The reaction mixture is stirred for 48 hours at room temperature, dioxan is evaporated and after filtration, solution is adjusted to pH 2 using dilute HCl (1:1). The mixture is extracted several times with ethyl acetate and the solution dried using Na2SO4. Ethyl acetate is evaporated off and the oily product is rubbed to powder in diethyl ether. After washing with diethyl ether and drying in vacuo, white crystals with m.p. 148-150oC should be obtained (MA-GFLG). MA-GFLG will be dissolved in dry THF and cooled to 0oC. Solutions of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and p-nitrophenol, both in THF, are then added while cooling and stirring continuously for two hours and then kept in the refrigerator at 4oC for 24 hours. Dicyclohexylurea formed during the reaction will be filtered off. Crude crystal are dissolved in ethyl acetate, cooled to 0oC, filtered, and precipitated in diethyl ether. The isolated product (MA-GFLG-ONp) is further purified by crystallization from a acetone-diethyl ether mixture (3:7). Next, a calculated amount of DOX hydrochloride is added to a solution of MA-GFLG-ONp in DMSO, followed by slow addition of
an equivalent amount of triethylamine and stirred at room temperature in the dark for 3 hours. MA-GFLG-DOX is isolated and purified by precipitation in acetone-diethylether mixtures. EMBED ChemDraw.Document.6.0
Scheme 2: Synthesis of polymerizable biodegradable monomer containing DOX.
Synthesis of PHPMA-DOX-COOH
The synthesis of a semitelechelic N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers containing a functional group at one end of the molecule is a prerequisite for their one point attachment to the periphery of the hyperbranched polyglycerol core. This will be accomplished by the following procedure (Scheme 2). ADDIN EN.CITE Wang200270Wang, D.Kopeckova, P.Minko, T.Nanayakkara, V.Kopecek, J.2002Synthesis of Starlike N-(2-Hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide Copolymers: Potential Drug CarriersBiomacromolecules13313-3199 A methanol solution of HPMA, 3-mercapto propionic acid (MPA), and 4,4-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) (ACA) will be purged with nitrogen, sealed in an ampule and polymerized at 50oC for 3 hours. The polymer solution will be concentrated and precipitated into diethyl ether, dried under vacuum, and further purified by liquid chromatography (in methanol) to eliminate free MA-GFLG-DOX. The purified polymer will be fractionated by SEC on a preparative column with phosphate buffer saline containing 30% acetonitrile as the eluent, desalted by dialysis and then lyophilized. Different molecular weight fractions will be selected for conjugation with hyperbranched polyglycerols. The content of DOX in the copolymer will be calculated from UV spectra (480 nm, e = 1 0 , 5 0 0 i n H 2 O ) . E M B E D C h e m D r a w . D o c u m e n t . 6 . 0
S c h e m e 3 : S y n t h e s i s o f c a r b o x y l i c a c i d t e r m i n a t e d H P M A c o p o l y m e r c o n t a i n i n g D O X .
S y n t h e s i s o f H P G - P H P M A - D O X C o n j u g a t e s
T h e s t a r - l i k e H P G / H P M A c o p o l y m e r c o n t a i n i n g D O X w i l l b e s y n t h e s i z e d b y e s t e r i f i c ation of carboxylic acid end groups at PHPMA termini with the hydroxyl groups on the HPG surface (Scheme 3). A solution of HPG in DMSO will be slowly added to a solution of PHPMA-COOH-DOX (10-fold molar excess to hydroxyl group) with rigorous stirring. HPG-PHPMA-DOX will be precipitated into acetone, separated from the unreacted PHPMA-COOH-DOX by preparative SEC, concentrated, dialyzed, and lyophilized. Molecular weights will also be determined by SEC. 1H-NMR will be used to verify the structure of the HPG copolymer. EMBED ChemDraw.Document.6.0
Scheme 4: Synthesis of hyperbranched polyglycerol-based HPMA copolymer-drug conjugates.
Cytotoxicity Assay of HPG-PHMPA-DOX Conjugates
The cytotoxicity of DOX bound to star-like polymers will be assessed with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. ADDIN EN.CITE Minko1999150Minko, T.Kopecek, J.Kopecek, P.1999J. Control. Rel.5913321 Cells will be seeded into multi-welled microliter plates at the density of 10, 000 cells per wall. Twenty-four hours after plating, the medium will be aspirated and 12 different concentrations of sterile DOX in fresh media will be added to determine the concentration necessary to inhibit the growth of cells by 50%, relative to non-treated control cells. Control cells will be treated with an equivalent volume of phosphate buffered saline. All cells will be cultured for 72 h with the drugs before a cell survival test is performed.
In vitro Release of DOX from HPG-PHPMA-DOX Conjugates
Bovine spleen cathepsin B (CP-B) is a lysomal enzyme involved in the intracellular digestion of proteins HPMA-copolymer drug conjugates. ADDIN EN.CITE Rejmanova1983160Rejmanova, P.Kopecek, J.Pohl, J.Baudys, M.Kostka, V.1983Macromol. Chem.184200922 To estimate the relative participation of individual factors on the cytotoxicity of conjugates, CP-B will be used as a model enzyme to evaluate the in vitro release of DOX from HPG-PHPMA-DOX conjugates. ADDIN EN.CITE Wang1999250Wang, C. W.Chang, R. T.Lin, W. K.Lin, R. D.Liang, M. T.Yang, J. F.Wang, J. B.1999Supercritical CO2 Fluid for Chip Resistor CleaningJ. Electrochem. Soc.14693485-88supercritical carbon dioxide, metals contamination, chip resistor cleaning23 Conjugates will be dissolved in an incubation mixture containing CP-B, cysteine, and phosphate buffer. At chosen time intervals samples will be withdrawn, mixed with Na2CO3/NaHCO3 buffer and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer will be separated a n d d r i e d . C o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f f r e e D O X i n e t h y l a c e t a t e w i l l b e d e t e r m i n e d w i t h U V s p e c t r o p h o t o m e t r y ( 4 8 0 n m , e = 1 1 , 0 0 0 ) .
C O N C L U S I O N S
T h e s y n t h e s i s , c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n , a n d c y t o t o x i c i t y e v a l u a t i o n o f n e w s t a r - l i k e c o p o l y m e r d r u g c o n j u g a t e s i s p r o p o s e d . T his proposed research takes advantage of the recent advances in the controlled synthesis of hyperbranched polyglycerols and the proven viability of water-soluble HPMA copolymer drug conjugates as biocompatible carriers. These new star-like copolymers offer the potential to provide highly concentrated doses of cancer fighting drugs to cells. Determination of fundamental behavior of these copolymers in terms of cytoxicity and release of the drugs in vitro will provide insight to better design criteria. These systems could be further developed by incorporation of more than one drug thus producing star-like copolymer drug cocktails or by introduction of targeting moieties and antibodies for site-specific drug delivery. REFERENCES
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DESCRIPTION OF DISSERTATION RESEARCH
HF Etchant Solutions in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for Dry Etch Processing of Microelectronics Devices
Aqueous hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions used in wet etching processes are one of the most effective ways to etch dielectric surfaces and native oxides on silicon wafers. Traditionally, such solutions are used for the production of integrated circuits (IC) on silicon wafers and in surface micro-machining for the release of component parts in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. However, using aqueous-based solutions often hinders the processes or poses environmental difficulties. Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been proposed as a dry, environmentally benign process enabling replacement of aqueous and organic solvents in microelectronics. Breakthroughs in the development of CO2-based surfactants and CO2-soluble polymers have set the stage for enabling CO2 to be investigated for use in drying; lithography, including for use as the development solvent, spin coating and integrated deposition, development and stripping methods; metal deposition; and chemical-mechanical polishing methods. Current research is based on the development of a CO2-based etchant solution containing HF/pyridine complex utilized in dry etch processing of microelectronics devices. This includes design and implementation of a suitable etching apparatus, determination of etching kinetics thermodynamics, and detailed characterization of surfaces after etching. Dissolution studies of SiO2 and other SiO2-type thin films on silicon substrates have been performed to determine etch behavior. Etching rates were found to be a function of HF concentration, etch time, and temperature. Applicability of these active etchant solutions in back-end-of-line cleaning of post dielectric etch residues is from microelectronics structures is explored.
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