Date - 5/22/2023:

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Nanoparticles can be utilized to improve drug delivery to living systems. However, a great deal still remains to be learned about their transportation through the body. Researchers at Yale University and Inha University (Korea) used PLA-CY5 (AV032) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create fluorescent nanoparticle to track their transport through living systems. This research holds promise to improve nanoparticle delivery systems. Read more: Grundler, Julian, Kwangsoo Shin, Hee-Won Suh, Chang-Hee Whang, and W. Mark Saltzman. "Prolonged Circulation and Enhanced Tumor Uptake of PEGylated Nanoparticles by Manipulation of Nanoscale Surface Topography." (2023). https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/article-details/64504e5f80f4b75b53745c09

“Improving the performance of nanocarriers remains a major challenge in the clinical translation of nanomedicine. Efforts to optimize nanoparticle formulations typically rely on tuning the surface density and thickness of stealthy polymer coatings such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Here, we show that modulating the surface topography of PEGylated nanoparticles using bottlebrush block copolymer (BBCP) significantly enhances circulation and tumor accumulation providing an alternative strategy to improve nanoparticle coatings. Specifically, nanoparticles with rough surface topography achieve high tumor cell uptake in vivo due to superior tumor extravasation and distribution compared to conventional smooth-surfaced nanoparticles. Furthermore, surface topography profoundly impacts the interaction with serum proteins resulting in the adsorption of fundamentally different proteins onto the surface of rough-surfaced nanoparticles formed from BBCPs. We envision that controlling the nanoparticle surface topography of PEGylated nanoparticles will enable the design of improved nanocarriers in various biomedical applications.”

Video: https://youtu.be/_5rnkwCLLgg

Akina Inc. is now hiring both Staff Scientist and Laboratory Intern. See more here: http://akinainc.com/employment.php

Bulk, empty bottles from pandemic-era hand-sanitizer manufacturing and other excess inventory items are available for purchase from Akina, Inc. See more here: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/YardSale/

Doxorubicin and other drugs are commonly used as chemotherapy agents to treat cancer. However, several biochemical pathways including p-glycoprotein mediated pathways can lead to multi-drug resistance. These cancers can be targeted by their phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) to direct delivery of drugs to the cancers. Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, and St. John's University utilized PLGA-SH (cat# AI025) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create multifunctional gold-polymer nanoparticles to deliver doxorubicin to cancer cells in a targeted manner. This research holds promise to provide for treatment of multi-drug resistant cancers. Read more: Lin, Ruikun, Lei Zhang, Biwei Ye, Yanan Wang, Yi-Dong Li, Hsu Jason, Wenzhen Liu et al. "A multi-functional nano-system combining PI3K-110α/β inhibitor overcomes P-glycoprotein mediated MDR and improves anti-cancer efficiency." Cancer Letters (2023): 216181. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383523001325

“Highlights: MDR limit chemotherapy against cancers, and nano-systems that can target P110α or P110β and inhibit MDR were not reported. BAY-1082439 can inhibit P110 subunits, attenuate P-gp-mediated MDR in cancers but is poorly soluble and unstable in blood. ·Here we constructed a multi-functional drug-loading nano-system PBDF for inhibiting the MDR KB cells overexpressing P-gp. BAY1082439@PLGA-SH, DOX@PLGA-SH NPs, and SH-PEG-FA were grafted to gold nanorods and PBDF was established. BBDF NPs inhibited proliferation of MDR KB-C2 cancer cells and KB-C2 tumor growth, and reduced metastasis of KB-C2 cells. Abstract: P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancers severely limit chemotherapeutic efficacy. We recently reported that phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) 110α and 110β subunits can be novel targets for reversal of P-gp mediated MDR in cancers, and BAY-1082439 as an inhibitor specific for PI3K 110α and 110β subunits could reverse P-gp-mediated MDR by downregulating P-gp expression in cancer cells. However, BAY-1082439 has very low solubility, short half-life and high in-vivo clearance rate. Till now, nano-system with the functions to target PI3K P110α and P110β and reverse P-gp mediated MDR in cancers has not been reported. In our study, a tumor targeting drug delivery nano-system PBDF was established, which comprised doxorubicin (DOX) and BAY-1082439 respectively encapsulated by biodegradable PLGA-SH nanoparticles (NPs) that were grafted to gold nanorods (Au NRs) modified with FA-PEG-SH, to enhance the efficacy to reverse P-gp mediated MDR and to target tumor cells, further, to enhance the efficiency to inhibit MDR tumors overexpressing P-gp. In-vitro experiments indicated that PBDF NPs greatly enhanced uptake of DOX, improved the activity to reverse MDR, inhibited the cell proliferation, and induced S-phase arrest and apoptosis in KB-C2 cells, as compared with free DOX combining free BAY-1082439. In-vivo experiments further demonstrated that PBDF NPs improved the anti-tumor ability of DOX and inhibited development of KB-C2 tumors. Notably, the metastasis of KB-C2 cells in livers and lungs of nude mice were inhibited by treatment with PBDF NPs, which showed no obvious in-vitro or in-vivo toxicity. Keywords: Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cancer Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) 110 subunits P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) Multifunctional nano-system Tumor targeting”

Video: https://youtu.be/lQ3NAcGprCI

Akina Inc. is now hiring both Staff Scientist and Laboratory Intern. See more here: http://akinainc.com/employment.php

Bulk, empty bottles from pandemic-era hand-sanitizer manufacturing and other excess inventory items are available for purchase from Akina, Inc. See more here: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/YardSale/

One way to control drug delivery to specific locations is to affiliate the drug with cell type which traverses to that category so it can be carried along like the drugs are in a ‘backpack.’ This is particularly powerful for immune system treatment as immune cells provide for many opportunities of attachment based on signals and typically travel to sites of inflammation. Recently, researchers at Harvard University and Wyss Institute used PLGA-Maleimide (Cat# AI153) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create particles which surface adhere to monocytes and carry interleukin-4 and dexamethasone as immunomodulators. This research holds promise to provide treatment for Multiple sclerosis. Read more: Kapate, Neha, Michael Dunne, Ninad Kumbhojkar, Supriya Prakash, Lily Li-Wen Wang, Amanda Graveline, Kyung Soo Park et al. "A backpack-based myeloid cell therapy for multiple sclerosis." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120, no. 17 (2023): e2221535120. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2221535120

“Significance: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a currently incurable autoimmune disease with a complex disease pathology. Despite the key role of myeloid cells in the pathophysiology of MS, current treatments do not specifically target myeloid cells or directly make their use for modulating the disease. We propose that immunomodulatory monocytes, upon intravenous injection, can infiltrate into inflamed central nervous system and have the potential to mitigate disease progression. We control monocyte phenotype through cell surface–adhered particles (“backpacks”) loaded with interleukin-4 and dexamethasone. Treatment with backpack-laden monocytes elicited local and systemic immunomodulatory effects, culminating in improved motor functions in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice. The results reported here demonstrate the possibility of myeloid cells as a therapy and drug target in MS. Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable autoimmune disease and is currently treated by systemic immunosuppressants with off-target side effects. Although aberrant myeloid function is often observed in MS plaques in the central nervous system (CNS), the role of myeloid cells in therapeutic intervention is currently overlooked. Here, we developed a myeloid cell-based strategy to reduce the disease burden in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of progressive MS. We developed monocyte-adhered microparticles (“backpacks”) for activating myeloid cell phenotype to an anti-inflammatory state through localized interleukin-4 and dexamethasone signals. We demonstrate that backpack-laden monocytes infiltrated into the inflamed CNS and modulated both the local and systemic immune responses. Within the CNS, backpack-carrying monocytes regulated both the infiltrating and tissue-resident myeloid cell compartments in the spinal cord for functions related to antigen presentation and reactive species production. Treatment with backpack-monocytes also decreased the level of systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, backpack-laden monocytes induced modulatory effects on TH1 and TH17 populations in the spinal cord and blood, demonstrating cross talk between the myeloid and lymphoid arms of disease. Backpack-carrying monocytes conferred therapeutic benefit in EAE mice, as quantified by improved motor function. The use of backpack-laden monocytes offers an antigen-free, biomaterial-based approach to precisely tune cell phenotype in vivo, demonstrating the utility of myeloid cells as a therapeutic modality and target.”

Video: https://youtu.be/OnndlGtOfKY

Akina Inc. is now hiring both Staff Scientist and Laboratory Intern. See more here: http://akinainc.com/employment.php

Bulk, empty bottles from pandemic-era hand-sanitizer manufacturing and other excess inventory items are available for purchase from Akina, Inc. See more here: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/YardSale/

Akina, Inc. is looking for a staff scientist to work on the research and development of biomedical, and pharmaceutical products and. The position is primarily formulations development, hydrogel research, and polymer chemistry. A bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, or related scientific field is required. Prior work experience in research and development or pharmaceutical/biomedical field is a plus. Submit resume to General Manager, John Garner jg@akinainc.com

See more details here: http://akinainc.com/employment.php

Bulk, empty plastic bottles and caps useful for manufacturing of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hand-sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and other consumer products are being sold from Akina, Inc. from excess inventory. All items are available for pickup from Akina’s location (3495 Kent Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47906) or may be shipped with additional costs for shipping fees. If interested, contact Akina Sales at sales@akinainc.com or 765-464-0501 for purchasing or more information.