Добавил:
kiopkiopkiop18@yandex.ru t.me/Prokururor I Вовсе не секретарь, но почту проверяю Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:
Ординатура / Хирургия / Библиотека им академика М.И. Перельмана / Книга_5894_Библиотеки_им_академика_М_И_Перельмана.pdf
Скачиваний:
0
Добавлен:
02.09.2026
Размер:
19 Мб
Скачать
14 Reversible PEGylation ofNanocarriers
387
One of the recommended techniques for improving nanocarrier biocompatibility is PEGylation, which is accomplished by adsorbing, grafting, or entrapping poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) onto surfaces improves stealth qualities are conferred by this technique, which surpasses other chemicals’ ability to inhibit RES absorption. “Stealth” property mentioned in the context of nanocarrier’s surfaces, diminishes their recognition or uptake by the cellular immune system, leading to longer circula­tion time, reduced dosage and frequency, and superior site-selective delivery of drugs (Howard etal. 2008).
14.1.3 Reversible PEGylation andIts Significance
The selection of a PEGylation strategy depends on various factors, such as the target parameter, entity function, and structure (drug molecule or colloidal carrier). Permanent modication via stable covalent binding of PEG strands to the agent or particle surface and releasable PEGylation via the use of specially designed linkers responsive to hydrolysis, enzymes, or certain stimuli are the two most investigated approaches. But the primary barrier to PEGylation is the inactivation that frequently occurs when a PEG chain covalently attaches to a protein, particularly peptide med­ications (Shechter etal. 2005).
A useful delivery platform is provided by reversible PEG modication, which permits control over pharmacological action and active agent regeneration. The conjugate created with this method becomes a “prodrug,” slowly and spontaneously hydrolyzing under physiological conditions to release the native active peptide or protein drug from the inert conjugation over an extended period of time (Shechter etal. 2005). In a recent study, researchers used polyamidoamine dendrimers that have been loaded with doxorubicin and PEGylated with both acid-insensitive suc­cinic linkage and acid-sensitive cis-aconityl linkage (Zhu etal. 2010).
Another research group employed this phenomenon to enhance the circulatory lifespan of peptide and protein drugs. A novel PEG-IFNR2 conjugate, PEG40­FMS- IFNR2, was developed. This conjugate, formed through a slowly hydrolyz­able bond, allows for the regeneration of native interferon R2 (IFNR2) under physiological conditions (Fig.14.1). The invitro regeneration rate indicated a half­life of 65hours. The pharmacokinetic prole, simulated numerically, demonstrated prolonged invivo maintenance and active-native IFNR2 regeneration, offering an advantage over current formulations in terms of accessibility to peripheral tissues. Utilizing this reversible PEGylation event has various benets, some of which were already covered (Peleg-Shulman etal. 2004; Rieger etal. 2009).
Drug delivery techniques such as reversible PEGylation are essential because they enable the temporary attachment of PEG chains to peptides and proteins, con­trolled release of the active agent, maintenance of the therapeutic activity of the drug while prolonging its half-life in circulation, and improvement of the exibility and adaptability of nanomedicines (Shechter etal. 2005).
388
Fig. 14.1 Diagrammatic representation showing PEGylation and reversible PEGylation
M. Mishra et al.

14.2 Reversible PEGylation Strategies

Reversible PEGylation allows for precise control over the PEGylation state, offer­ing advantages in drug delivery, protein engineering, and bioconjugation. Reversible PEGylation is a novel technology that allows the release of native proteins, such as interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-alpha 2), over a prolonged period invivo (Peleg-Shulman etal. 2004). PEGylation, or the covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains, is a technique used to prolong the action of therapeutic proteins in the body. However, PEGylated peptides and proteins are often inactive due to their short­circulatory half-life (Peleg-Shulman etal. 2004). Reversible PEGylation aims to overcome the limitations of traditional PEGylation by using a combination of PEG and other components, such as 2-sulfo-9-uorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMS), to cre­ate a slowly hydrolyzable bond between the PEG and the protein (Peleg-Shulman etal. 2004). This allows the protein to retain its activity and be released gradually in the body, providing a sustained therapeutic effect.
For example, a study developed a PEG-IFNalpha2 conjugate, PEG (40)-FMS­IFNalpha2, which was capable of regenerating native interferon alpha 2 at a slow
14 Reversible PEGylation ofNanocarriers
389
rate under physiological conditions. The invitro rate of regeneration of native inter­feron was estimated to have a half-life of 65hours, and the active IFNalpha2 levels peaked at 50h, with substantial levels still being detected 200hours after adminis­tration (Peleg-Shulman etal. 2004).
Another example is the use of a supramolecular polymer-based transformable material, PEG-NH2-PRX, which is a mixing-type PEGylation material that pro­vides amino groups to interact with protein drugs on demand (Utatsu etal. 2021). This material has been shown to efciently form complexes with proteins and improve their stability compared to other PEGylation materials (Utatsu etal. 2021). In summary, reversible PEGylation is a promising approach to improve the thera­peutic efcacy of protein drugs by releasing native proteins in a controlled manner, overcoming the limitations of traditional PEGylation (Utatsu etal. 2021).

14.2.1 Reversible PEGylation Chemistry

The most basic linker design for releasable PEGylation could have an exposed ester bond between the drug and the polymer. However, simplicity in design does not deliver the needed customized release kinetics required for drug release control and personalized pharmacokinetics (Filpula and Zhao 2008). Furthermore, molecules frequently lack a functional hydroxyl or carboxyl group for ester formation. Many biologically active compounds have additional functional groups, such as amines and thiols, which necessitate more complex linker architectures. The present stage of prociency in linker design for releasable PEGylation is a result of a recent focused study on prodrug chemistry (Filpula and Zhao 2008).
14.2.2 Linkers forReversible PEGylation
PEG chains can be temporarily attached to biomolecules like proteins or peptides with the help of reversible PEGylation linkers. These linkers then permit the PEG chains to be cleaved or detached under specic circumstances. These linkers’ chem­istry can vary, but they frequently contain functional groups or cleavable bonds that react to variations in pH, temperature, or other external conditions. The chemistry of a few popular varieties of reversible PEGylation linkers is shown in Fig.14.2.
Aromatic and aliphatic linkers are two broad categories of chemical linkers or spacers used in various applications, including molecular biology, drug design, and materials science.
14.2.2.1 Aromatic Linkers
Contains one or more aromatic rings in their structure which are characterized by a closed loop of alternating single and double bonds, such as benzene rings. Aromatic linkers often provide rigidity to the molecule due to the conjugated pi-electron sys­tem in the aromatic ring. They are generally planar and can participate in pi-pi stacking interactions with other aromatic molecules. They can have distinct
390
Fig. 14.2 Attributes of releasable PEGylation. Diagram of key elements in rPEGylation that include a trigger segment that initiates the linker degradation pathway and the release of the origi­nal protein as veried by multiple analytical methods
M. Mishra et al.
electronic properties and may be involved in electronic or photophysical processes (Fig.14.3).
14.2.2.2 Aliphatic Linkers
They are characterized by open-chain structures, lacking the closed-loop of alter­nating single and double bonds found in aromatic rings. Aliphatic linkers often con­tain saturated carbon-carbon bonds, such as in alkyl chains. Aliphatic linkers are typically exible and less rigid compared to aromatic linkers. They do not have the same pi-pi stacking interactions that aromatic rings can form and are often used to increase the exibility and mobility of attached functional groups (Fig.14.3).

14.2.3 Cleavage Linkers

Cleavable linkers in reversible PEGylation are used to attach PEG to a therapeutic molecule, such as a protein or peptide, and enable its release under specic condi­tions (Gupta etal. 2019). These linkers allow for the temporary attachment of PEG, which can be cleaved under certain biological conditions, leading to the release of the active molecule. Examples of cleavable linkers include enzyme-cleavable ester or amide bonds, disulde bonds, and other specic chemical moieties that can be cleaved under physiological conditions. Reversible PEGylation using cleavable linkers has been studied for its potential in drug delivery and cancer therapy (Gupta etal. 2019).
14 Reversible PEGylation ofNanocarriers
391
Fig. 14.3 Chemistry of releasable linkers for PEGylation. Adapted with permission from (Filpula and Zhao 2008), Copyright 2007. (a) Prodrug designs of aromatic (BE: RNL or TML) and ali­phatic (bicin) linkers include NHS leaving group, a trigger group for initiation of elimination reac­tions, and a linker segment attached to a spacer or directly to PEG.The linker segment may be rationally or empirically designed to provide steric hindrance or additional nucleophilic sites such that the release kinetics of the linker are controllable. (b) Reaction of an activated PEG of the BE linker type with a protein amine to form the bioconjugate. In plasma, the initial ester cleavage in the trigger element rst discharges the PEG and complete release of the linker element from pro­tein occurs rapidly. (c) Chemical basis of the bicin series of releasable linkers. Bis-N-2­hydroxyethylglycinamide (1) is subject to hydrolytic assistance from both hydroxyethyl side chains and cyclizes to a morpholinolactone (2), which is rapidly hydrolyzed to the acid, bicin (4). (d) Reaction of an activated PEG of the bicin linker type (1) with a protein amine to form the bio­conjugate (2). In vivo, the acetyl group is rapidly lost, while the elimination reaction to release the PEG segment occurs at a moderate and controllable rate with the nal release of the original pro­tein predicted to occur via an intramolecular cyclization event
Cleavable linkers in PEGylation offer a versatile approach to controlling drug release kinetics, allowing for targeted and controlled release of the therapeutic mol­ecule under specic biological conditions.
392
M. Mishra et al.
14.2.3.1 Hydrolyzable Linkers
These linkers are designed to be cleaved by hydrolysis under specic conditions, such as changes in pH or enzymatic activity. They enable the release of the PEG from the therapeutic molecule under controlled biological environments.
Examples of hydrolyzable linkers in PEGylation include:
1. Hydrolytically labile ester linkers: These linkers are designed to be cleaved by
hydrolysis under specic conditions, such as changes in pH or enzymatic activ­ity. They enable the release of the PEG from the therapeutic molecule under controlled biological environments.
2. Carbonate linkers: A hydrolyzable carbonate linker can connect the drug pay-
load to the PEG.This connection breaks under acidic or basic conditions, allow­ing for controlled drug release.
3. Succinimide-based linkers: These linkers contain a succinimide ring that can
undergo a hydrolysis reaction when the linker-payload combination reacts with cysteine residues on other proteins. This reaction can open the succinimide ring, allowing the linker to undergo an elimination pathway and become completely stable. Seattle Genetics’ new generation of linkers incorporate a primary amine adjacent to the maleimide, which promotes a much faster hydrolysis reaction.
4. Glucuronic acid-based linkers: Some hydrolyzable linkers replace the
maleimide group, where the linker is cleaved when it enters the cancer cell, with a hydrophilic glucuronic acid moiety. Lysosomal compartments of cells have β-glucuronidase enzymes that can remove the glucuronic acid, which can improve the ADC’s pharmacokinetic properties.
These hydrolyzable linkers in PEGylation offer a versatile approach to control­ling drug release kinetics, allowing for targeted and controlled release of the thera­peutic molecule under specic biological conditions.
14.2.3.2 Enzymatically Cleavable Linkers
These linkers are designed to be cleaved by specic enzymes, allowing for targeted drug release at particular sites in the body. For example, protease-sensitive linkers can be used to achieve controlled release of the therapeutic molecule in response to enzymatic activity (Ghosal etal. 2021).
Examples of enzymatically cleavable linkers in PEGylation include:
1. Dipeptide-based linkers: Val-Cit and Phe-Lys are examples of dipeptide-based
linkers that can be used in enzymatically cleavable PEGylation. These linkers can be cleaved by specic enzymes, allowing for controlled drug release (Mccombs and Owen 2015).
2. PAB (p-amino benzyl alcohol): The dipeptide valine-citrulline combined with
PAB is a popular enzymatic cleavage sequence. PAB is a self-immolative linker that can release the free drug when it is cleaved by enzymes (Mccombs and Owen 2015).
14 Reversible PEGylation ofNanocarriers
393
3. Peptide linkers: Creative Biolabs offer a class of enzymatically cleavable pep-
tide linkers for conjugating antibodies and drugs. These linkers can be designed to be cleaved by specic enzymes, allowing for controlled drug release (Mccombs and Owen 2015).
4. β-glucuronide linkers: These linkers incorporate a hydrophilic sugar group that
can be cleaved by β-glucuronidase. Once the sugar is cleaved from the phenolic backbone, self-immolation of the PAB group releases the free drug.
These enzymatically cleavable linkers in PEGylation offer a versatile approach to controlling drug release kinetics, allowing for targeted and controlled release of the therapeutic molecule under specic biological conditions (Mccombs and Owen 2015).

14.2.4 pH-Responsive PEGylation

It is a technique used in drug delivery systems to target specic cells or tissues. It involves the use of PEG chains that are attached to nanoparticles and can be designed to be pH sensitive (Rustad etal. 2022). PEGylation, which reverses after a therapeu­tic agent reaches the target cell, is an attractive feature for drug, protein, or nucleic acid delivery. PEG has been widely used to enhance the circulation time of nanocar­riers in the bloodstream, improving drug delivery efciency (Sun et al. 2015a). However, its nonspecic binding can hinder effective drug release at the target site. It also appears that the covalent binding of PEG to proteins results in steric interfer­ence, which shields conjugates from proteolysis and lowers the pace at which they are removed from the bloodstream by renal ltration and intracellular absorption (Tsubery etal. 2004). The pH-responsive reversible PEGylation is a groundbreak­ing advancement in drug delivery systems, allowing nanocarriers to be coated with PEG chains that selectively cleave in response to changes in pH levels. This allows for precise drug release at the desired location, reducing the risk of premature release.
The pH-responsiveness of these systems arises from the protonation of specic groups, leading to the destabilization of the nanoparticles and the release of the encapsulated drug (Fig.14.4). Research has shown that pH-responsive PEGylation can affect release kinetics and cellular uptake in cancer cells, particularly in glio­blastoma cells. pH-sensitive liposomes with cleavable PEGylation have been designed to target tumor cells, exhibiting a signicantly charge shift and highly efcient phagocytosis by tumor cells while retaining long blood circulation time. Therefore, pH-responsive PEGylation represents a promising strategy for targeted drug delivery, especially in the context of cancer therapy (Ghosh and Dey 2020).
This method has applications in cancer therapy and inammatory diseases, enhancing treatment efcacy while minimizing side effects (Nie etal. 2011). This innovative approach represents a signicant step towards personalized medicine, paving the way for more effective and patient-friendly treatments. These merits are in agreement with the reports of Sun etal. They synthesized acid-sensitive PEGylated
394
M. Mishra et al.
Fig. 14.4 Diagrammatic representation showing reversible PEGylation strategies and its merit
14 Reversible PEGylation ofNanocarriers
395
DOX, which enhanced tumor accumulation and accelerated intracellular drug release in acidic conditions. This pH-responsive reversible DOX demonstrated pro­longed circulation time in blood, enhanced tumor tissue accumulation, and acceler­ated intracellular drug release, suggesting potential for clinical chemotherapy of various malignancies. The study also showed no damage to the body (Sun etal. 2015b).
Another group of researchers use this phenomenon, they use PEG aldehyde­carboxypyridylhydrazone, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters (PEG-HZN-NHS) and synthesized for bioreversible surface shielding of DNA polyplexes. Both mono­functional and bifunctional mPEG-HZN-NHS were used, with mPEG-HZN-NHS shielded particles remaining shielded at pH7.4. Luciferase gene transfections with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-containing polyplexes showed up to 16-fold enhancement in gene expression with reversibly shielded polyplexes compared to stably shielded polyplexes. Reversibly shielded polyplexes also mediated an enhanced tumor-specic invivo transgene expression (Fella etal. 2008).
pH-responsive PEGylated nanocarriers offer several advantages in drug delivery, including:
1. Targeted drug delivery: pH-responsive nanocarriers can be designed to release
drugs specically in the acidic environment of tumors, leading to targeted drug delivery and reduced side effects (Alsawaftah etal. 2022).
2. Improved drug stability: PEGylation can improve the stability of drugs, pro-
tecting them from degradation and premature release (Li etal. 2022).
3. Increased circulation time: PEGylation can increase the circulation time of
nanocarriers in the bloodstream, allowing for prolonged drug exposure and improved therapeutic efcacy (Karimi etal. 2016; Alsawaftah etal. 2022).
4. Controlled drug release: pH-responsive nanocarriers can be designed to release
drugs in a controlled manner, allowing for sustained drug release and improved therapeutic outcomes (Alsawaftah etal. 2022).
However, there are also limitations to consider, such as reduced intracellular uptake of PEGylated nanoparticles and immunogenicity of PEG.Despite these lim­itations, pH-responsive PEGylated nanocarriers remain a promising strategy for targeted drug delivery, especially in the context of cancer therapy.
There are several drugs that have been successfully delivered using pH- responsive PEGylated nanocarriers. Some examples include:
(a) Paclitaxel: Acetal-linked PEGylated paclitaxel prodrugs have been developed
to form free-paclitaxel-loaded pH-responsive micelles with high drug loading capacity and improved drug delivery (Li etal. 2022).
(b) Doxorubicin: pH-sensitive liposomes with a PEGylated pH-responsive poly
(amino acid) (PAA) corona have been developed to release encapsulated doxo­rubicin in a pH-responsive manner, showing potential for tumor-specic drug delivery (Karimi etal. 2016).
396
M. Mishra et al.
14.2.4.1 Proteasome Inhibitor MG132
Micelles composed of poly (ethylene glycol)-poly-aspartate copolymer with 45nm particle size have been developed to deliver proteasome inhibitor MG132, showing low invivo toxicity of micelles than free MG132 and prolonged circulation of drug­loaded micelles in the bloodstream (Karimi etal. 2016).
These examples demonstrate the potential of pH-responsive pegylated nanocar­riers in delivering drugs for cancer therapy and other applications. pH-responsive PEGylation has been explored in various drug delivery systems, such as liposomes and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, for cancer therapy. Here are some examples:
1. pH-responsive liposomes with cleavable PEGylation: These liposomes exhibit
a signicant charge shift and highly efcient phagocytosis by tumor cells while retaining long blood circulation time.
2. pH-sensitive liposomes with a PEGylated pH-responsive poly (amino acid)
(PAA) corona: These liposomes display a high colloidal stability in blood and a pH-responsive release of encapsulated doxorubicin both invitro and invivo. The invitro doxorubicin release showed a half-life of 3.4h at pH7.4, which increased to 21.6h at pH5.0. The invivo antitumor efcacy was evaluated in mice bearing 4 T1 luciferase-labeled breast cancer, showing the potential of these pH­responsive liposomes for tumor-specic drug delivery.
3. pH-responsive PEGylation of PLGA nanoparticles: The effect of pH on the
stability of PLGA nanoparticles with respect to the pH range of 7.4 (pH of cyto­plasm) to 6.5 (pH of lysosome) was investigated. The study found that the pH of the medium does not affect the stability of the formulation, suggesting that the pH of the medium does not inuence the degradation of the polymer (Hu etal. 2020).
These examples demonstrate the potential of pH-responsive PEGylation in can­cer drug delivery, offering improved targeted delivery and reduced side effects.

14.2.5 Temperature-Responsive PEGylation

A clever tactic in drug delivery systems is temperature-responsive reversible PEGylation, in which medications or carriers are linked to PEG chains, which are then attached and detached in response to variations in temperature (Fig.14.4). This technique enables PEGylation to be modulated reversibly, enabling a dynamic response to temperature changes. PEG chains cover the drug or carrier at lower temperatures and separate at higher temperatures, which may improve drug release and interactions with biological systems shown in Fig. 14.5. This reversible PEGylation that is temperature-responsive enhances the exibility and effectiveness of drug delivery systems by providing a customized response to the physiological environment for better therapeutic results.