Akinalytics
Midwest GMP
Polymer Blog
Technical Blog
John Garner, General ManagerA blog dedicated to answering technical questions in an open format relating to products from PolySciTech, a division of Akina, Inc.
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PCL from PolySciTech used in microparticles for delivery of psoralen to treat arthritis
Friday, June 13, 2025, 3:57 PM ET
“Developing novel drug carriers for delivery of psoralen (PSO) is crucial to inhibit the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The goal of this work is to develop PSO-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres through a single emulsion solvent evaporation route, helping to release drug in a controllable manner and thereby improve its bioavailability. The resulting PCL@PSO microspheres are characterized by multiple physicochemical techniques. Results exhibit the loading of PSO into PCL increases the size and specific surface area. Also, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of PCL@PSO microspheres are (87.77 ± 0.07)% and (12.28 ± 0.01)%, respectively. Release experiments show such microspheres exhibit pH-responsive drug kinetics, predominantly releasing PSO in alkaline environments in contrast with neutral or acidic conditions. This release pattern is conducive to inhibit inflammatory response whilst promote osteanagenesis in bone microenvironment. Cell experiments demonstrate PCL@PSO microspheres are cytocompatible with BMSCs cell but strongly toxic to RBL-2H3 cell. Mechanistically, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as evidenced by the up-regulation of pro-apoptosis proteins such as Caspase3, Cyto-c and Bax, is activated by PCL@PSO via increased ROS and reduced mitochondria membrane potentials. Further, the up-regulation of APC and LATS1 and the down-regulation of OIP5 are contributed to RBL-2H3 cell apoptosis. Moreover, PCL@PSO could down-regulate histamine receptor HRH1 expression in RBL-2H3 cell, thereby inhibiting inflammation expansion. Conclusively, it is feasible to use PCL@PSO microspheres as candidate micro-carriers to deliver PSO, terminally benefitting to inhibit inflammatory response whilst promote osteanagenesis, especially for individuals suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Keywords: PCL, PSO, Drug delivery, disease therapy”
PCL (Cat# AP257): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP257#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
BPR Akina's Free Scientific Conference (West Lafayette, 9/30/25: (https://akinainc.com/bprconference/)
Polylactide from PolySciTech used in development of long-term contraceptive device
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 9:32 AM ET
Drug delivery devices are a convenient way to maintain a specific patient’s drug dose in their bloodstream for therapeutic effect. Researchers at Harvard and MIT used PLLA (Cat# AP007) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop a long-lasting contraceptive which enables the delivery of levonorgestrel over multiple years. Read more: Li, Jason, Benjamin G. Clark, Parmiss Khosravi, Colin Cotter, Jia Y. Liang, Susan R. Ling, Yuyan Su et al. "Monolithic Shape-Shifting Absorbable Implants for Long-Term Contraception." bioRxiv (2025): 2025-05. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.18.654764.abstract
“Reversible contraceptives empower women to prevent unintended pregnancies and enable family planning. However, the need for frequent dosing with pills or injections often leads to suboptimal medication adherence and reduced effectiveness–an issue common to many chronic conditions. Long-acting drug delivery implants offer a compelling alternative by enabling autonomous, multi-year drug release, thereby improving real-world adherence and treatment outcomes. However, user acceptability and access are limited by need for invasive insertion and surgical end-of-life removal, particularly in low-resource settings, as well as by limited drug loading and suboptimal drug utilization efficiency, which constrain both the duration of therapy and the range of drugs that can be effectively delivered. To address these limitations, we developed the Monolithic Shape-shifting Absorbable Implants for Chronic Care (MoSAIC) platform–a minimally invasive, fully bioresorbable system that integrates compacted drug formulations with a space-efficient device architecture. This approach reduces implant size, eliminates the need for surgical removal, and prolongs therapeutic duration compared to existing implants. We develop compacted formulations of the contraceptive drug levonorgestrel (LNG), and other poorly water-solubility drugs, demonstrating exceptional drug loading (100% w/w) and multi-year sustained drug release via surface-mediated dissolution in rats. When incorporated into MoSAIC devices, these formulations enable high-efficiency drug loading and zero-order drug release kinetics with geometrically tunable rates and durations. As a result, MoSAIC systems can be designed to be smaller, less invasive, and/or longer lasting than current contraceptive implants such as Jadelle® and Nexplanon®. The MoSAIC platform expands access to reversible contraception and supports long-term medication adherence, with the potential to improve health outcomes and quality of life. More broadly, it provides a flexible approach for delivering other potent, low-solubility therapeutics and lays the foundation for a “dose it and forget it” paradigm in chronic disease management, where adherence is designed into the therapy itself.”
PLLA (Cat# AP007): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP007#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
BPR Akina's Free Scientific Conference (West Lafayette, 9/30/25: (https://akinainc.com/bprconference/)
mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of nanoparticles for Alzheimer’s disease
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:59 AM ET
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative condition which affects the brain. Researchers at North Dakota State University used PEG-PLGA (cat# AK010) to develop nanoparticles for delivery of cannabidiol and ApoE2 as part of Alzheimer’s treatment. This research holds promise to provide treatment against this degenerative brain disease. Read more: Mahanta, Arun Kumar, Bivek Chaulagain, Avinash Gothwal, and Jagdish Singh. "Engineered PLGA Nanoparticles for Brain-Targeted Codelivery of Cannabidiol and pApoE2 through the Intranasal Route for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease." ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5c00465
“Neuroinflammation induced by the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques expedites the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Reducing Aβ plaques and associated neuroinflammation could potentially help to delay the progression of AD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is well-known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective nature, and the ApoE2 is effective in binding and clearing Aβ plaques in the brain. Therefore, codelivery of CBD and pApoE2 to the brain would be a promising therapeutic approach in developing effective therapeutics against AD. This research aims to design a nonviral delivery agent that delivers both drugs and genes to the brain through a noninvasive intranasal route. We have developed mPEG–PLGA nanoparticles coated with mannose, a brain-targeting ligand, to deliver CBD and pApoE2. The designed CBD-loaded coated nanoparticles showed an average diameter of 179.3 ± 4.57 nm and a zeta potential of 30.3 ± 6.45 mV. The coated nanoparticles prolonged the CBD release and showed a 93% release of its payload in 30 days. CBD-loaded nanoparticles, as compared to the free CBD, significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide and amyloid beta-induced inflammation in immortalized microglia cells. Cytotoxicity of the designed nanoparticles was assessed against brain endothelial cells (bEND.3) and found to be nontoxic in nature. The mannose-conjugated chitosan-coated nanoparticles were cationic and able to bind with the pApoE2, protecting the encapsulated pApoE2 from enzymatic degradation. Quantitative in vitro transfection efficiency study in primary astrocytes and primary neurons revealed that the ApoE2 expression level is significantly (P < 0.0001) higher for mPLGA-CBD-MC/pApoE2 than the control. The ApoE2 expression level in the brain of C57BL6/J mice was significantly (P < 0.0001) increased after intranasal administration of mPLGA-CBD-MC/pApoE2. Henceforth, the mannose-conjugated chitosan-coated mPLGA nanoparticles could serve as a nonviral delivery system to deliver both drugs and genes to the brain through the intranasal route for the management of AD.”
PLGA (Cat# AK010): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK010#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
BPR Akina's Free Scientific Conference (West Lafayette, 9/30/25: (https://akinainc.com/bprconference/)
PLGA-PEG-Maleimide from PolySciTech used in development of pulmonary fibrosis treatment
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 9:59 AM ET
Sivelestat is a drug against neutrophil activation to reduce fibrosis. Researchers at Sungkyunkwan University, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Yeungnam University Medical Center, MediArk Inc., Chungbuk National University, Yeungnam University Medical Center used PLGA-PEG-Mal (cat# AI020) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop nanoparticles to deliver Sivelestat for fibrosis treatment. Read more: Lee, Hye-Jin, Na Kyeong Lee, Jisun Kim, Jungbum Kim, Donghyuk Seo, Ha Eun Shin, Jongsu Kim et al. "Sequential nanoparticle therapy targeting neutrophil hyperactivation to prevent neutrophil-induced pulmonary fibrosis." Journal of Nanobiotechnology 23, no. 1 (2025): 1-19. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12951-025-03421-y
“Pulmonary fibrosis, a major complication of severe COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is driven by excessive neutrophil activation and the formation of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET). This study presents a sequential nanoparticle-based therapy combining DNase-I-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles (DNase-I@PDA NPs) with Sivelestat-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (Siv@PLGA NPs) to target both NETs and neutrophil elastase (NE) activity. DNase-I@PDA NPs were aerosolized to the lungs, facilitating NET clearance and reducing the fibrotic microenvironment, followed by intravenous administration of Siv@PLGA NPs to inhibit NE activity and prevent neutrophil hyperactivation. In a murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary fibrosis, this dual approach significantly decreased fibrotic lesions, collagen deposition, and myofibroblast activation. Notably, treatment with the nanoparticles led to substantial improvements in pulmonary function. In neutrophils isolated from COVID-19 patients, the combined nanoparticle therapy reduced circulating cell-free DNA, NET, NE, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, while enhancing neutrophil viability and reducing inflammatory responses. These findings highlight the efficacy of DNase-I@PDA NPs and Siv@PLGA NPs in addressing both acute inflammation and chronic fibrosis by simultaneously targeting NET formation and neutrophil hyperactivation. This dual nanoparticle therapy represents a promising clinical strategy for treating COVID-19-associated pulmonary complications, including PASC, by preventing long-term fibrotic progression and promoting lung recovery.”
PLGA (Cat# AI020): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AI020#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
BPR Akina's Free Scientific Conference (West Lafayette, 9/30/25: (https://akinainc.com/bprconference/)
PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of paclitaxel conjugated anti-cancer prodrug
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 9:58 AM ET
A prodrug is a chemical in which the therapeutic molecule is attached by a degradable linker to a polymer. Researchers at Brooklyn College, University of Vermont, Nuvance Health, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai used PLGA (Cat# AP037, AP081) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop paclitaxel conjugated PLGA for cancer therapy. Read more: Dragulska, Sylwia A., Maxier Acosta Santiago, Sabina Swierczek, Linus Chuang, Olga Camacho-Vanegas, Sandra Catalina Camacho, Maria M. Padron-Rhenals, John A. Martignetti, and Aneta J. Mieszawska. "Synthesis and Characterization of Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid)–Paclitaxel (PLGA-PTX) Nanoparticles Evaluated in Ovarian Cancer Models." Pharmaceutics 17, no. 6 (2025): 689. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/6/689
“We developed a novel biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer chemically modified with paclitaxel (PTX) to form a PLGA-PTX hybrid. Pre-modification of PTX enhanced its loading in PLGA-PTX nanoparticles (NPs). Background/Objectives: PTX is one of the most effective chemotherapy agents used in cancer therapy. The primary mode of PTX’s action is the hyperstabilization of microtubules leading to cell growth arrest. Although highly potent, the drug is water insoluble and requires the Cremophor EL excipient. The toxic effects of the free drug (e.g., neurotoxicity) as well as its solubilizing agent are well established. Thus, there is strong clinical rationale and need for exploring alternative PTX delivery approaches, retaining biological activity and minimizing systemic effects. Methods: The PTX modification method features reacting the C-2′ and C-7 residues with a linker (succinic anhydride) to produce easily accessible carboxyl groups on the PTX for enhanced coupling to the hydroxyl group of PLGA. The PLGA-PTX hybrid, formed via esterification reaction, was used to formulate lipid-coated PLGA-PTX NPs. As proof of concept, the PLGA-PTX NPs were tested in ovarian cancer (OvCA) models, including several patient-derived cell lines (PDCLs), one of which was generated from a platinum-resistant patient. Results: The PLGA-PTX NPs critically remained stable in water and serum while enabling slow drug release. Importantly, PLGA-PTX NPs demonstrated biological activity. Conclusions: We suggest that this approach offers both a new and effective PTX formulation and a possible path towards the development of a new generation of OvCA treatment. Keywords: poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); paclitaxel; nanoparticles; ovarian cancer”
PLGA (Cat# AP037, AP081): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP037#h, https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP081#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
BPR Akina's Free Scientific Conference (West Lafayette, 9/30/25: (https://akinainc.com/bprconference/)
PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of photothermal particles.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 9:57 AM ET
Phototherapy is related to the process of carefully and precisely heating certain parts of the body for therapeutic effect. In this process particles are introduced and then activated by an external factor, such as near-infrared light, to induce temperature change. Researchers at Cornell University used PLGA (cat# AP062) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop light-activated particles. This research holds promise to provide improved phototherapy in the future. Read more: Kwon, Jinha, Xinzhu Huang, Jaejun Lee, Jiyoung Kim, Prithwish Biswas, Keehun Kim, Chi-Yong Eom, Nozomi Nishimura, and Zhiting Tian. "Biodegradable PLGA Particles with Confined Water for Safe Photothermal Biomodulation." ACS nano (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsnano.5c06276
“Photothermal biomodulation is an emerging technique that leverages the deep optical penetration of near-infrared light in biological tissues, enabling a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Given that photothermal agents are used within the body, ensuring long-term safety is essential, necessitating the development of safer, biodegradable agents. In this work, we developed biodegradable photothermal particles based on the FDA-approved polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) polymer and confined water. We hypothesize that confined water acts as a photothermal transducer due to its lower heat capacity compared to surrounding bulk water, while the polymer layer provides thermal insulation, effectively retaining the generated heat within the particles and creating a thermal gradient in their immediate vicinity. Fluorescent thermometry and IR camera results demonstrate the strong photothermal performance of the developed particles, enabling localized heating instead of global heating in surrounding environments. Additionally, we confirm the presence of confined water within the particles through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. Further in vitro validation using lysozyme enzyme activity tests and cell viability experiments with EO771 cancer cells expressing LanYFP fluorescent protein confirmed the biocompatibility and efficacy of the developed particles. These particles successfully induced localized heating in the cellular environment without compromising cell viability, making them highly promising for safe biomedical applications in photothermal therapy and biomodulation.”
PLGA (Cat# AP062): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP062#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
BPR Akina's Free Scientific Conference (West Lafayette, 9/30/25: (https://akinainc.com/bprconference/)
Akina Webserver Back up
Monday, May 19, 2025, 7:57 AM ET
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Temporary Server Outage 5/15/2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025, 12:24 PM ET
The Akina, Inc. websites are down from 5/15/2025 due to maintenance until further notice.
Thermogelling PLGA-PEG-PLGA polymer used in development of Q-fever vaccine
Friday, May 9, 2025, 8:55 AM ET
Q fever is a potentially disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetiid that infects farm animals and can cross to humans. Researchers at University of California used PLGA-PEG-PLGA (cat# AK012, AK019, AK091) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop a thermogel delivery system for antigen delivery. This research holds promise to prevent this disease. Read more: Wang, Lu, Aaron Ramirez, Jiin Felgner, Enya Li, Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies, Anthony E. Gregory, Philip L. Felgner, Ali Mohraz, D. Huw Davies, and Szu-Wen Wang. "Development of a single-dose Q fever vaccine with an injectable nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel: effect of sustained co-delivery of antigen and adjuvant." Drug Delivery 32, no. 1 (2025): 2476144. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10717544.2025.2476144
“Q fever is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, and there is currently no FDA-approved vaccine for human use. The whole-cell inactivated vaccine Q-VAX, which is only licensed in Australia, has a risk of causing severe adverse reactions, making subunit vaccines a good alternative. However, most subunit antigens are weak immunogens and require two or more immunizations to elicit an adequate level of immunity. We hypothesized that by combining a nanoparticle to co-deliver both a protein antigen and an adjuvant, together with a hydrogel depot for sustained-release kinetics, a single-administration of a nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel vaccine could elicit a strong and durable immune response. We synthesized and characterized a protein nanoparticle (CBU-CpG-E2) that co-delivered the immunodominant protein antigen CBU1910 (CBU) from C. burnetii and the adjuvant CpG1826 (CpG). For sustained release, we examined different mixtures of PLGA-PEG-PLGA (PPP) polymers and identified a PPP solution that was injectable at room temperature, formed a hydrogel at physiological temperature, and continuously released protein for 8 weeks in vivo. Single-dose vaccine formulations were administered to mice, and IgG, IgG1, and IgG2c levels were determined over time. The vaccine combining both the CBU-CpG-E2 nanoparticles and the PPP hydrogel elicited a stronger and more durable humoral immune response than the soluble bolus nanoparticle vaccines (without hydrogel) and the free antigen and free adjuvant-loaded hydrogel vaccines (without nanoparticles), and it yielded a balanced IgG2c/IgG1 response. This study demonstrates the potential advantages of using this modular PPP hydrogel/nanoparticle system to elicit improved immune responses against infectious pathogens.”
PLGA-PEG-PLGA (Cat# AK012, AK019, AK091): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK019#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
Fluorescent PLGA-CY5 from PolySciTech used in development of nanoparticles targeting pancreatic cancer
Friday, May 9, 2025, 8:54 AM ET
Pancreatic cancer has poor prognosis due to little symptoms in the early stages and difficulty of treatment due to poor drug uptake. Recently, researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem used PLGA-CY5 (cat# AV034) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) in development of nanoparticles for SiRNA delivery. This research holds promise to provide for treatment of a highly lethal form of cancer. Read more: Agbaria, Majd, Doaa Jbara-Agbaria, and Gershon Golomb. "Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice." Precision Nanomedicine 8, no. 2 (2025): 1482-1500. https://precisionnanomedicine.com/article/136412.pdf
“Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to its dense extracellular matrix and poor vascularization, which limit effective drug accumulation and therapy. Here, we describe a local siRNA delivery system using thermosensitive hydrogel-embedded nanoparticles (NPs). siRNA against VAV1 (siVAV1), a key protein implicated in PC, was encapsulated in poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA)-based NPs decorated with an ApoB-derived peptide as the targeting ligand. The ApoB-targeted NPs exhibited optimal physicochemical properties, including nanoscale size, low poly- dispersity index, and a neutral charge. The sustained-release siRNA-NPs were incorporated into a thermosensitive hydrogel (poloxamer) and locally injected into the pancreas of tumor-bearing mice. Treatment with targeted NPs in gel (tNPs@G) resulted in a notable increase in accumulation within the tumor (1.9-fold) and spleen (1.3-fold) 72 hours post-injection, with minimal systemic exposure and no local cytotoxicity. Intra-tumoral implantation of the gel-laden siVAV1 NPs in PC-bearing mice led to a significant reduction in tumor growth and volume (2.6-fold), mediated by the inhibition of both VAV1 mRNA and protein, and improved survival rates. The developed local siRNA delivery system provides a minimally invasive and effective therapeutic approach for PC, addressing key drug delivery barriers.”
PLGA (Cat# AV034): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AV034#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of oral delivery of insulin
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 9:07 AM ET
Insulin is an important drug molecule in diabetes management, however its oral delivery is limited. Researchers at The University of Queensland and Hainan Beautech Stem Cell Anti-Aging Hospital used mPEG-PLGA (cat# AK026) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) in development of nanoparticles for oral delivery of insulin. This research holds promise to improve diabetes treatment in the future. Read more: Pang, Huiwen, Wenxuan Yu, Youzhi Wu, Xuqiang Nie, Guojun Huang, Zhi Ping Xu, Chen Chen, and Felicity Y. Han. "Enhanced Epithelial Cell Uptake of Glycol Chitosan‐Coated PLGA Nanoparticles for Oral Drug Delivery." Advanced Therapeutics (2025): 2400547. https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adtp.202400547
“It is reported that poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with chitosan and its derivatives, such as glycol chitosan (GC), can enhance the targeted uptake of PLGA NPs by intestinal epithelial cells. However, the optimal amount of GC for coating and the specific mechanisms by which it facilitates PLGA endocytosis remain unclear. In this study, PLGA-NPs are prepared using either single- or double-emulsion methods and coated with varying amounts of GC. The results confirmed that GC-coated PLGA NPs are internalized via both clathrin-mediated and caveolae-mediated endocytosis, whereas uncoated NPs relied on only clathrin-mediated endocytosis in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells. The optimized GC-coated PLGA-NPs formulation is further modified by layering alginate to enhance the oral delivery of insulin. In subsequent in vivo studies, the GC and alginate-coated PLGA NPs demonstrated stability and prolonged efficacy, achieving approximately a 50% reduction in blood glucose levels at 6 h post-administration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. These findings provide compelling evidence of the optimal coating amount and molecular mechanisms for GC in the PLGA oral platform, underscoring the feasibility and commercial potential of oral delivery platform based on the optimized GC- and alginate-coated PLGA NPs.”
PLGA (Cat# AK026): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK026#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
PLGA from PolySciTech used in ultrasonic-driven fluid transfer research for drug-delivery applications
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 9:06 AM ET
Ultrasound can be used to have a variety of effects in a
living organism including directing the flow of fluids. Researchers at The
University of Texas at Arlington PLGA (AP040) from PolySciTech Division of
Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com)
used in development of fluorescently tagged nanoparticles to track fluid
behavior under ultrasound. This research holds promise to improve understanding
of ultrasound fluid-flow effects in living organisms. Read more: Ren,
Liqin, Na Thi Vy Nguyen, Tingfeng Yao, Kytai T. Nguyen, and Baohong Yuan.
"Experimental studies on squeezing interstitial fluid via transfer of
ultrasound momentum (SIF-TUM) in ex vivo chicken and porcine
tissues." Journal of Applied Physics 137, no. 13 (2025). https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jap/article/137/13/135103/3340188
“The ultrasound-assisted transport of drugs or
fluorophore-loaded nanoagents plays an important role in the desirable drug
delivery and imaging contrasts. Unlike conventional ultrasound techniques that
rely on thermal or cavitation effects, this study aims to conduct an
experimental investigation into the dynamics of interstitial fluid streaming
and tissue recovery in ex vivo chicken breast and porcine loin muscle tissues
during and after ultrasound exposures, which has not been experimentally
investigated in the literature. Biological tissues consist of both a fluid and
a solid matrix, and an ultrasound beam compresses the tissues within a small
focal volume from all directions, which generates macroscopic streaming of
interstitial fluid and compression of the tissue's solid matrix. After the
ultrasonic exposure, the solid matrix undergoes recovery, leading to a backflow
of the fluid matrix. Temperature-insensitive sulforhodamine-101 encapsulated
poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles with an average diameter size of
175 nm were locally
injected into ex vivo chicken breast and porcine loin muscle tissues to study
the ultrasound-induced dynamics in the tissues during and after ultrasound
exposure by analyzing the distribution of fluorescence. The changes in
fluorescence over time caused by the streaming and backflow of interstitial
fluid were studied with two ex vivo tissue models, and a faster recovery was
observed in porcine tissues compared with chicken tissues. The
ultrasound-induced transportability of the nanoagent in porcine muscle tissues
was much higher (∼8.75 times) than in chicken breast tissue likely due to
structural differences. The study reveals a promising, non-invasive strategy
for enhancing drug delivery in dense tissues by leveraging mechanical
ultrasound effects, potentially advancing therapeutic and diagnostic
applications.”
PLGA (Cat# AP040): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP040#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service
available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
Video: https://youtu.be/EPCZiTiIwhw
PLGA from PolySciTech used in delivery system for dexamethasone for treatment of vocal cord damage
Monday, April 14, 2025, 1:27 PM ET
Damage and scarring to the vocal cord tissue can come from diseases, such as local infections or cancer, as well as trauma due to intubation or neck/throat injuries. This leads to speech problems and other issues depending on severity. Researchers at University of Cincinatti used PLGA (AP063) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) as part of a dexamethasone delivery system. This research holds promise to improve tissue repair options in the future. Read more: Zheng, Avery, Nour Awad, Denzel Ryan D. Cruz, Ruchika Pissay, Charles Farbos de Luzan, Gregory Dion, and Yoonjee Park. "Controlled-Release of Dexamethasone via Light-Activated Implant for Potential Vocal Fold Scar Treatment." ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c02231
This study investigates a novel light-activated implant system designed for injectable, dose-controlled, sustained drug delivery. The light-activated implant was developed by incorporating light-activated drug-releasing liposomes into a biodegradable polymeric capsule. The drug release kinetics from the implant at 0, 1, and 2 min of light activation were determined in vitro using a tissue mimic with varying depths. A pulsed near-infrared laser at 1064 nm, connected to an optical fiber, was used as the light source. The dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) release was tunable depending on the laser irradiation time, with an approximately 4% reduction in release as tissue depth increased by 2 mm. The implant was injected using a needle into ex vivo porcine vocal folds, and drug release kinetics were quantified by real-time fluorescence imaging. Mathematical models were also developed to understand diffusion mechanisms of the light-activated, controlled drug release profiles from the cylindrical implant. Finally, in vivo evaluations in a healthy rabbit vocal fold model confirmed comparable drug release through light activation. Histological assessments demonstrated the safety of the drug delivery system and the structural integrity of the implant within biological tissues after 6 weeks of implantation. These results support the potential clinical application of the drug delivery system, offering a promising solution for conditions requiring precise, controlled therapeutic delivery. Future work will focus on scaling the technology for clinical trials, including construct and tissue reactions in human tissue, to enhance treatment efficacy for various medical conditions.
PLGA (Cat# AP063): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP063#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in the development of nanoparticles to cross the blood-brain-barrier for treatment of Lou Gehrig's disease
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 1:26 PM ET
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) affects the nervous system leading to loss of muscle control. Researchers at University of Porto and University of Santiago de Compostela used mPEG-PLGA (AK106) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop nanoparticles to transport edaravone across the blood brain barrier. This research holds promise to improve therapeutic options against Lou Gehrig’s disease in the future. Read more: Aguiar, Brandon, Ana Rita Alfenim, Cláudia Sofia Machado, Joana Moreira, Miguel Pinto, Francisco J. Otero-Espinar, Fernanda Borges, and Carlos Fernandes. "Exploring Nano-Delivery Systems to Enhance the Edaravone Performance in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 5 (2025): 2146. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11900301/
“Edaravone is one of the treatment options for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, but its therapeutic efficacy is limited due to the incapacity to cross the blood–brain barrier, as well as its short life span and poor stability, which is ultimately caused by its tautomerism in physiological condions. This work presents an overview about the use of several nanoformulations based on polymeric, protein, lipidic, or hybrid structure as suitable and stable drug delivery systems for encapsulating edaravone. We also evaluated the functionalization of nanoparticles with pegylated chains using the polyethylene glycol or tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate and the possibility of preparing polymeric nanoparticles at different pH (7.4, 9, and 11). Edaravone was sucessfully encapsulated in polymeric, lipid–polymer hybrid, and lipidic nanoparticles. The use of higher pH values in the synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles has led to a decrease in nanoparticle size and an increase in the percentage of encapsulation efficiency. However, the resulting nanoformulations are not stable. Only polymeric and hybrid nanoparticles showed good stability over 80 days of storage, mainly at 4 °C. Overall, the nanoformulations tested did not show cytotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y cell line except the nanostructured lipid carrier formulations that showed some cytotoxicity possibly due to lipidic peroxidation. In conclusion, this work shows that edaravone can be encapsulated in different nanocarriers that could act as an interesting alternative for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Keywords: edaravone, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hybrid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers”
PLGA (Cat# AK106): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK106#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of Ocular delivery system
Thursday, March 27, 2025, 3:42 PM ET
“Posterior segment-related diseases are among the leading causes of irreversible blindness and loss of vision globally. These diseases are extremely difficult to treat due to the drug delivery barriers posed by the eye, among other challenges. One delivery method that bypasses many of these obstacles, albeit not without risk, is ocular injections, and long-acting formulations such as implants can improve patient compliance by allowing for longer intervals between injections. Here, we report our development of a preclinical in situ-forming implant dosage form that provides sustained release of a novel compound, DKR-1677, with a target in the retina. An in situ-forming implant based on polylactic co glycolic acid (PLGA) was chosen in this preclinical stage because it is readily translatable to a preformed implant product. The formulations were tested in vitro, in rat and rabbit animal models for drug release and pharmacokinetics. A two-step in vitro dissolution method with implant formation in a biorelevant gel followed by incubation in release media showed a 30-day three-phase release profile with an initial burst release of 36.04 ± 4.23 %, a plateau, and a controlled release up to 93.75 ± 4.68 % at day 30, typical of PLGA-based implant formulations. Immediate and controlled-release formulations were tested in rat and rabbit animal models and confirmed that DKR-1677 is taken up by the retina after intravitreal administration. Furthermore, the in situ-forming implant was found to prolong drug presence in the retina to 30 days following a single administration, confirming that a PLGA-based implant is a viable approach for this drug candidate.”
PCL (Cat# AP040): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP040#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
Polycaprolactone from PolySciTech used in development of Cell scaffold.
Thursday, March 27, 2025, 3:41 PM ET
“Abstract: Vascular grafts are often used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Desired properties of next-generation graft materials include artery-like mechanics, clinically feasible manufacturing processes, and a bioactive interface that facilitates rapid and deep infiltration of neighboring cells to support tissue regeneration. These requirements inspired the design, fabrication, and post-processing of our graft materials. In terms of material design, we evaluated the performance of three microfiber graft materials composed of a hydrophobic polymer and photo-clickable, 4-arm thiolated polyethylene glycol-norbornene (PEG-NB). The materials included two coaxially nanostructured fiber designs, each featuring a PEG-NB sheath and different cores—polycaprolactone (PCL) and polycaprolactone-co-lactic acid (PLCL), respectively—and a mixed composition created by directly blending the sheath and core solutions during electrospinning. For post-processing, the constructs were either air-dried or freeze-dried. Surface morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy, while mechanical properties were characterized through tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis. Subcutaneous implants were evaluated at 1, 4, and 16 weeks using histological, immunofluorescent, and multiphoton microscopy analyses to examine cellular distribution, material structure, and tissue remodeling. Results showed that the freeze-drying post-processing method enhanced overall porosity, stiffness, and ultimate tensile strength. Among all tested conditions, the freeze-dried core-sheath structure with PCL most closely matched the mechanical properties of native vessels. Using PLCL as a core material increased degradation and cell infiltration during the first month of subcutaneous studies. Ultimately, graft strength, porosity, and bioactivity were effectively modulated by the choice of core material and post-processing method. The distinct strengths of PCL and PLCL as a core polymer suggest that combining these materials could potentially optimize material degradation, cell infiltration and tissue remodeling along with mechanical performance.”
PCL (Cat# AP257): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP257#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
Fluorescent PLGA from PolySciTech used in tracking lymph node drainage in rodent model as part of allergy research
Friday, March 14, 2025, 3:12 PM ET
Allergic reactions are a T-cell mediated condition which is typified by a pathological immune response yet remains not fully understood. Researchers at University of Pittsburgh used fluorescent PLGA-FPR648 (Cat# AV008) PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to prepare fluorescent microparticles for the study which were used to track drainage through the lymph nodes in rodent model during allergic interactions. This research holds promise to improve understanding of allergic interactions and work towards improved treatment options. Read more: Bentley, Elizabeth R., Stacia Subick, Jake Doran, Julie Kobyra, Stephen C. Balmert, and Steven R. Little. "Local delivery of an adenosine receptor agonist reduces inflammation associated with contact hypersensitivity." Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2025): 1-16. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13346-025-01831-x
“Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a T-cell mediated inflammatory skin condition, is prompted by multiple, subsequent exposures to contact allergens (e.g., nickel). Current treatment approaches for ACD include repeated topical application or systemic delivery of immunosuppressants. These treatment strategies have many limitations, including non-specific mechanism of actions and the occurrence of side effects due to their delivery method. For this reason, we developed a novel therapeutic approach that is based upon adenosine (Ado) receptor signaling, a known anti-inflammatory pathway. Specifically, we developed a polymer microparticle-based controlled release system capable of presenting IBMECA (IBMECA-MPs), an Ado receptor agonist, to the local environment. In this study, we first sought to study the immunosuppressive effects of IBMECA on immune cells implicated in the pathogenesis of ACD (e.g., dendritic cells) in vitro. Subsequently, we examined the effects of enhancing adenosine signaling in contact hypersensitivity (CHS), an in vivo model of ACD, through local administration of IBMECA-MPs. We observed that IBMECA-MPs were capable of reducing the inflammatory response associated with CHS by reducing maturation markers of antigen-presenting cells, altering cytokine secretion, and reducing relative frequencies of effector T cell populations. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of therapeutic efficacy of IBMECA in CHS, as well as the first proof-of-principle demonstration of IBMECA application in the context of a local drug delivery system. Ultimately, this delivery system has the potential to be adapted for use in other T-cell mediated inflammatory conditions (e.g., transplant rejection), suggesting broader implications of this study.”
mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AV008): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AV008#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech Used in Development of anti-TNF-alpha therapy for Crohn’s disease treatment.
Monday, March 3, 2025, 4:29 PM ET
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by over immune response. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used PEG-PLGA (AK106) ) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop nanoparticles which deliver monoclonal antibodies for anti-TNF-alpha which reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and signals the body to take a less aggressive immune response. This research holds promise to improve treatment of IBS. Read more: Zhang, Yicheng, Ling Li, Jiayuan Kong, Yuanmuhuang Long, Xiaoya Lu, Christopher J. Erb, Yurun Miao et al. "Long-acting injectable nanoparticle formulation for sustained release of anti-TNF-α antibody therapeutic in ulcerative colitis treatment." Journal of Controlled Release 380 (2025): 1005-1016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365925001567
“Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, remitting, and relapsing conditions of the gastrointestinal tract with incompletely elucidated etiology. The anti-TNF-α mAbs represent one of aflash nanocomplexation and flash nanoprecipitation process, resulting in particles with a narrow size distribution and tunable release profile, with the longest in vitro release lasting over four months. These mAb-releasing NPs are then incorporated into hyaluronic acid hydrogel microparticles (MPs) to enhance tissue retention, thus extending the duration of mAb release in vivo. A single i.m. injection of the LAI can maintain the serum mAb level above the therapeutically effective concentration for over 100 days in healthy mice. In a 9-week study using a dextran sulfate-induced chronic colitis model, the anti-TNF-α LAI formulation demonstrates substantial therapeutic efficacy and a better safety profile than free mAb injections. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of this LAI system in maintaining a persistent serum mAb level and its potential as a versatile, safer, and effective delivery system for antibody therapeutics.”
mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AK106): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK106#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
MidWest GMP for scaled clinical formulation manufacturing
Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 2:05 PM ET
PLGA from PolySciTech : Akina used in development of hydrogel for treatment of heart disease
Monday, February 17, 2025, 1:55 PM ET
Heart disease is the main cause of death worldwide. Researchers at University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Akron used PLGA (cat# AP154) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop SDF-1a releasing particles to load in with hydrogel matrix to repair damaged heart tissue. This research holds promise to improve treatments against heart-attacks and related cardiovascular diseases. Rear more: Xu, Jiazhu, Jacob Brown, Rubia Shaik, Luis Soto-Garcia, Jun Liao, Kytai Nguyen, Ge Zhang, and Yi Hong. "Injectable myocardium-derived hydrogels with SDF-1α releasing for cardiac repair." Biomaterials Advances (2025): 214203. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772950825000305
“Developed a nanocomposite hydrogel by encapsulating SDF-1α-loaded PLGA NPs into a cdECM hydrogel. Achieved sustained SDF-1α release over four weeks in vitro, compared to one week for direct encapsulation. PLGA NPs incorporation enhanced cdECM hydrogel mechanics, significantly improving both stiffness and strength. Demonstrated the ability to accelerate angiogenesis and restore cardiac function in a rat MI model. Myocardial infarction (MI) is a predominant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Therapeutic chemokines, such as stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α), present a promising opportunity to treat the profibrotic remodeling post-MI if they can be delivered effectively to the injured tissue. However, direct injection of SDF-1α or physical entrapment in a hydrogel has shown limited efficacy. Here, we developed a sustained-release system consisting of SDF-1α loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) and an injectable porcine cardiac decellularized extracellular matrix (cdECM) hydrogel. This system demonstrated a sustained release of SDF-1α over four weeks while there is one week release for SDF-1α directly encapsulated in the cdECM hydrogel during in vitro testing. The incorporation of PLGA NPs into the cdECM hydrogel significantly enhanced its mechanical properties, increasing the Young's modulus from 561 ± 228 kPa to 1007 ± 2 kPa and the maximum compressive strength from 639 ± 42 kPa to 1014 ± 101 kPa. This nanocomposite hydrogel showed good cell compatibility after 7 days of culture with H9C2 cells, while the released SDF-1α retained its bioactivity, as evidenced by its chemotactic effects in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo studies further highlighted its significant ability to promote angiogenesis in the infarcted area and improve cardiac function after intramyocardial injection. These results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of combining local release of SDF-1α with the cdECM hydrogel for MI treatment.”
PLGA (Cat# AP154): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP154#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
Video Guide to PST Website
Friday, February 14, 2025, 2:30 PM ET
PolySciTech Website is very large with many products and a great deal of information and functions. Learn more about how to navigate it with Akina’s video guide here: https://youtu.be/Tjlorp1lH0s
Swag for 2025: T-shirt, Multi-tool
Friday, February 14, 2025, 2:28 PM ET
Qualifying orders from PolySciTech (www.PolySciTech.com) can receive a TSA compliant branded multitool, perfect for opening packages and doing other odd-jobs around the lab. Larger orders can receive a nerdy T-shirt. When you want something to release immediately use WD40. When you want it to release never use duct tape. When you want it to release later use PolySciTech.
PLGA-PEG-NH2 from PolySciTech used in research on protein corona on nanoparticle transport
Monday, February 10, 2025, 1:12 PM ET
“Neuronanomedicine harnesses nanoparticle technology for the treatment of neurological disorders. An unavoidable consequence of nanoparticle delivery to biological systems is the formation of a protein corona on the nanoparticle surface. Despite the well-established influence of the protein corona on nanoparticle behavior and fate, as well as FDA approval of neuro-targeted nanotherapeutics, the effect of a physiologically relevant protein corona on nanoparticle-brain cell interactions is insufficiently explored. Indeed, less than 1% of protein corona studies have investigated protein coronas formed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid surrounding the brain. Herein, we utilize two clinically relevant polymeric nanoparticles (PLGA and PLGA-PEG) to evaluate the formation of serum and CSF protein coronas. LC–MS analysis revealed distinct protein compositions, with selective enrichment/depletion profiles. Enhanced association of CSF precoated particles with brain cells demonstrates the importance of selecting physiologically relevant biological fluids to more accurately study protein corona formation and subsequent nanoparticle-cell interactions, paving the way for improved nanoparticle engineering for in vivo applications.”
PLGA-PEG-NH2 (Cat# AI169): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AI169#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in delivery of mRNA for treatment of breast cancer
Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 3:23 PM ET
Triple-negative breast cancer references a specific type of cancer which does not express common cancer receptors such as Herceptin. This makes treatment of this kind of cancer very difficult. Recently, researchers at University of Ottawa, National Research Council Canada used mPEG-PLGA (cat# AK010) PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to create nanoparticles for delivery of mRNA. This research holds promise to provide for improved cancer therapy in the future. Read more: El-Sahli, Sara, Shireesha Manturthi, Emma Durocher, Yuxia Bo, Alexandra Akman, Christina Sannan, Melanie Kirkby et al. "Nanoparticle-Mediated mRNA Delivery to Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) Tumors." ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (2025). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00597
“mRNA-based therapies can overcome several challenges faced by traditional therapies in treating a variety of diseases by selectively modulating genes and proteins without genomic integration. However, due to mRNA’s poor stability and inherent limitations, nanoparticle (NP) platforms have been developed to deliver functional mRNA into cells. In cancer treatment, mRNA technology has multiple applications, such as restoration of tumor suppressors and activating antitumor immunity. Most of these applications have been evaluated using simple cell-line-based tumor models, which failed to represent the complexity, heterogeneity, and 3D architecture of patient tumors. This discrepancy has led to inconsistencies and failures in clinical translation. Compared to cell line models, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models more accurately represent patient tumors and are better suitable for modeling. Therefore, for the first time, this study employed two different TNBC PDX tumors to examine the effects of the mRNA-NPs. mRNA-NPs are developed using EGFP-mRNA as a model and studied in TNBC cell lines, ex vivo TNBC PDX organotypic slice cultures, and in vivo TNBC PDX tumors. Our findings show that NPs can effectively accumulate in tumors after intravenous administration, protecting and delivering mRNA to PDX tumors with different genetic and chemosensitivity backgrounds. These studies offer more clinically relevant modeling systems for mRNA nanotherapies in cancer applications. Keywords: nanoparticles mRNA delivery gene restoration TNBC patient-derived xenograft Cancer Cancer therapy Cells Imaging probes Tumors”
mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AK010): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK010#h
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers https://www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of particle based delivery system for glaucoma therapy.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 11:42 AM ET
“Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is implicated in the structural and functional damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Topical IOP lowering agents provide short-term relief, necessitating frequent dosing. Moreover, non-adherence to frequent eyedrops administration contributes significantly to visual field loss and worsens the disease outcome. We optimized the poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulation of hybrid antioxidant-nitric oxide donor SA-2 (SA-2NP), investigated its bioavailability, duration of IOP lowering efficacy, and effects on retinal function in the microbead model of ocular hypertension (OHT). SA-2 was bioavailable in the anterior and posterior segments after 1, 8, and 24 h post-single topical eyedrop administration. SA-2NP significantly lowered IOP (∼25-34%) and preserved the RGC function after weekly eyedrop administration for 3 weeks in C57BL/6J mice. In conclusion, the optimized SA-2NP formulation demonstrated the desired bioavailability, ocular safety, and prolonged IOP-lowering efficacy in the mouse microbead occlusion model of OHT. SA-2 is a small hybrid molecule with both nitric-oxide donating (in blue) and superoxide dismutase mimetic (in red) activities. Compound SA-2 improves mitochondrial respiration in human trabecular meshwork cells and neuroprotective retinal ganglion cells. Here, we report that an optimized SA-2 loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle formulation, when instilled as an eye drop, improved the delivery and bioavailability of SA-2 in the mouse eye. Topical administration of SA-2NPs eye drops was efficacious in lowering intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in a rodent microbead occlusion model of ocular hypertension with ∼6 days of sustained IOP lowering (25-32%) after a single dose. Keywords: PLGA nanoparticles SA-2 intraocular pressure primary open-angle glaucoma bioavailability retinal protection sustained release”
PLGA (Cat# AP082): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP082#h
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/
These posts are syndicated from John Garner's blog at http://jgakinainc.blogspot.com/ where you can post a question or comment. (Load took 0.23278903961182 seconds)
