Blood compatibility of metallocene polyethylene (mPE) was investigated after modifying the surface using hydrochloric acid. Contact angle of the mPE exposed to HCl poses a decrease in its value which indicates increasing wettability and better blood compatibility. Surface of mPE analyzed by using FTIR revealed no significant changes in its functional groups after treatment. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope images supported the increasing wettability through the modifications like pit formations and etching on the acid rendered surface. To evaluate the effect of acid treatment on the coagulation cascade, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were measured. Both PT and APTT were delayed significantly (P < 0.05) after 60 min exposure implying improved blood compatibility of the surfaces. Hemolysis assay of the treated surface showed a remarkable decrease in the percentage of lysis of red blood cells when compared with untreated surface. Moreover, platelet adhesion assay demonstrated that HCl exposed surfaces deter the attachment of platelets and thereby reduce the chances of activation of blood coagulation cascade. These results confirmed the enhanced blood compatibility of mPE after HCl exposure which can be utilized for cardiovascular implants like artificial vascular prostheses, implants, and various blood contacting devices.
This study aims to create glyco-based nanoparticles (NPs) with high drug-loading capability for targeted cancer treatment, specifically against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Traditional NPs have faced limitations due to low drug-loading capacities, leading to suboptimal therapeutic effectiveness and significant side effects. To overcome these limitations, DOX@pB-pM NP were synthesized using a self-assembly combination method of two poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) based polymers, mannoside-b-PCL (pM) and phenylboronic acid (PBA)-mPEG-t-PCL (pB). The pM polymer synthesis includes a Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAc) reaction. DOX@pB-pM NP's mannose moiety is specifically engineered to target MDA-MB-231 cells, while the core of the NPs is made of hydrophobic, biodegradable polyester PCL. The functions of mPEG and PBA in the pB tri-block copolymer are to enhance biocompatibility and drug-loading efficiency, respectively. Additionally, mPEG can reduce nonspecific interactions. The PBA on the pB introduces a hydrophobic segment to the copolymer, which can improve the interaction with water-insoluble drugs, doxorubicin (DOX). The PBA moiety can also provide additional functionality, such as pH-responsive and H2O2-responsive drug release, which is particularly useful in targeting the tumor's acidic and oxidative microenvironment. The PBA groups convert them to boronic acid and 4-(hydroxymethyl) phenol, which destroys the NP core and causes DOX release, resulting in cell death. The in vitro release profile of DOX from the DOX@pB-pM NPs was evaluated under various conditions, including different pH levels and the presence or absence of H2O2, to simulate the acidic tumor microenvironment. The cytotoxicity of the DOX@pB-pM NPs was assessed using the MTT assay, which demonstrated significant inhibition of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell growth by DOX@pB-pM NPs. By combining mannose for the targeting of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and fine-tuning the ratio of pM and pB polymers, the NPs showed good therapeutic efficacy. Importantly, pB-pM NPs displayed good biocompatibility, with no significant effect on cell survival even at high concentrations, indicating their potential as safe drug carriers. These data show that DOX@pB-pM NPs can potentially improve cancer therapeutic efficacy and safety.