Mal-amido-PEG8-acid

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is an artificial but biocompatible hydrophilic polymer that has been widely used in clinical products. To evaluate the feasibility of using PEG derivative itself as a tumor imaging carrier via an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, we prepared indium-111-labeled PEG ((111)In-DTPA-PEG) and indocyanine green (ICG)-labeled PEG (ICG-PEG) with PEG molecular weights of 5-40kDa and investigated their in vivo biodistribution in colon26 tumor-bearing mice. Thereafter, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging studies were performed. The in vivo biodistribution studies demonstrated increased tumor uptake and a prolongation of circulation half-life as the molecular weight of PEG increased. Although the observed differences in in vivo biodistribution were dependent on the labeling method ((111)In or ICG), the tumor-to-normal tissue ratios were comparable. Because PEG-based probes with a molecular weight of 20kDa (PEG20) showed a preferable biodistribution (highest accumulation among tissues excised and relatively high tumor-to-blood ratios), an imaging study using (111)In-DTPA-PEG20 and ICG-PEG20 was performed. Colon26 tumors inoculated in the right shoulder were clearly visualized by SPECT 24h after administration. Furthermore, PA imaging using ICG-PEG20 also detected tumor regions, and the detected PA signals increased in proportion with the injected dose. These results suggest that PEG derivatives (20kDa) serve as robust diagnostic drug carriers for tumor imaging.

To create a clinically relevant gold nanoparticle (AuNP) treatment, the surface must be functionalized with multiple ligands such as drugs, antifouling agents and targeting moieties. However, attaching several ligands of differing chemistries and lengths, while ensuring they all retain their biological functionality remains a challenge. This review compares the two most widely employed methods of surface cofunctionalization, namely mixed monolayers and hetero-bifunctional linkers. While there are numerous in vitro studies successfully utilizing both surface arrangements, there is little consensus regarding their relative merits. Animal and preclinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of mixed monolayer functionalization and while some promising in vitro results have been reported for PEG linker capped AuNPs, any potential benefits of the approach are not yet fully understood.

The solution structure of the Escherichia coli-expressed extracellular domain, residues 12-172, of the human 55 kDa type I tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) has been probed by Raman (514.5 nm) and ultraviolet-resonance Raman (244 nm) excitations. The Raman spectra have been collected from both the free TNFR domain and an engineered "dumbbell-like" derivative, consisting of two mutant receptor moieties linked by a 20 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) tether. The results demonstrate a TNFR secondary structure which is rich in beta-sheet and deficient in alpha-helix, consistent with the reported X-ray crystal structure of baculovirus expressed receptor complexed with factor beta [Banner, D. W., D'Arcy, A., Janes, W., Gentz, R., Schoenfeld, H.-J., Broger, C., Loetscher, H., & Lesslauer, W. (1993) Cell 73, 431-445]. Conversely, the solution structure of TNFR differs from the crystal structure in its distribution of disulfide rotamers and in the orientation of its unique indole side chain (tryptophan-107). These differences are attributed, respectively, to N-terminal truncation and factor binding in the TNFR crystal structure. The tryptophan configuration, which is easily monitored in both Raman and UVRR spectra, is proposed as a potential signal of receptor/factor recognition and binding. Application of the Raman probes to the engineered TNFR dumbbell, which is of interest as a potential therapeutic, shows that TNFR moieties of the dumbbell exhibit secondary structures and side chain environments which are indistinguishable from those of the native, wild-type moiety. The results suggest that the PEGylated dumbbell may function as an effective TNFR drug delivery system without the consequence of a deleterious antigenic response.