Unveiling the Performance of Co-Assembled Hybrid Nanocarriers: Moving towards the Formation of a Multifunctional Lipid/Random Copolymer Nanoplatform
Efstathia Triantafyllopoulou,
Diego Romano Perinelli,
Aleksander Forys,
Pavlos Pantelis,
Vassilis G. Gorgoulis,
Nefeli Lagopati,
Barbara Trzebicka,
Giulia Bonacucina,
Georgia Valsami,
Natassa Pippa,
Stergios Pispas
Affiliations
Efstathia Triantafyllopoulou
Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Diego Romano Perinelli
School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Aleksander Forys
Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
Pavlos Pantelis
Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), 11527 Athens, Greece
Vassilis G. Gorgoulis
Molecular Carcinogenesis Group, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), 11527 Athens, Greece
Nefeli Lagopati
Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Barbara Trzebicka
Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
Giulia Bonacucina
School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Georgia Valsami
Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Natassa Pippa
Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Stergios Pispas
Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
Despite the appealing properties of random copolymers, the use of these biomaterials in association with phospholipids is still limited, as several aspects of their performance have not been investigated. The aim of this work is the formulation of lipid/random copolymer platforms and the comprehensive study of their features by multiple advanced characterization techniques. Both biomaterials are amphiphilic, including two phospholipids (1,2-dioctadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)) and a statistical copolymer of oligo (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) and 2-(diisopropylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DIPAEMA). We examined the design parameters, including the lipid composition, the % comonomer ratio, and the lipid-to-polymer ratio that could be critical for their behavior. The structures were also probed in different conditions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that P(OEGMA-co-DIPAEMA)/lipid hybrid colloidal dispersions have been investigated from a membrane mechanics, biophysical, and morphological perspective. Among other parameters, the copolymer architecture and the hydrophilic to hydrophobic balance are deemed fundamental parameters for the biomaterial co-assembly, having an impact on the membrane’s fluidity, morphology, and thermodynamics. Exploiting their unique characteristics, the most promising candidates were utilized for methotrexate (MTX) loading to explore their encapsulation capability and potential antitumor efficacy in vitro in various cell lines.
