U.S. patent application number 10/786676 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for conjugate of polyethylene glycol and chitosan.
This patent application is currently assigned to West Pharmaceutical Services Drug Delivery & Clinical Research Centre Limited.. Invention is credited to Bignotti, Fabio, Davis, Stanley Stewart, Ferruti, Paolo, Lin, Wu.
Application Number | 20040166158 10/786676 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27806734 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040166158 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis, Stanley Stewart ; et
al. |
August 26, 2004 |
Conjugate of polyethylene glycol and chitosan
Abstract
PEG-chitosan conjugates comprising chitosan and polyethylene
glycol moieties or derivatives thereof which are bonded together
and their use in medicine is described. In one embodiment, the
conjugate comprises a chitosan moiety or a derivative thereof and a
polyethylene glycol moiety or a derivative thereof which are bonded
together via the amino function on the chitosan by the use of an
activated chitosan species. In another embodiment, the conjugate
comprises a chitosan moiety or a derivative thereof and a
polyethylene glycol moiety or a derivative thereof which are bonded
together, the chitosan portion of the conjugate having a molecular
weight in the range of from 10 kilodaltons to 1000 kilodaltons.
Inventors: |
Davis, Stanley Stewart;
(Nottingham, GB) ; Lin, Wu; (Nottingham, GB)
; Bignotti, Fabio; (Brescia, IT) ; Ferruti,
Paolo; (Milano, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP
One Commerce Square
Suite 2200
2005 Market Street
Philadelphia
PA
19103-7013
US
|
Assignee: |
West Pharmaceutical Services Drug
Delivery & Clinical Research Centre Limited.
|
Family ID: |
27806734 |
Appl. No.: |
10/786676 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10786676 |
Feb 25, 2004 |
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10350714 |
Jan 24, 2003 |
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6730735 |
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10350714 |
Jan 24, 2003 |
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09462189 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
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09462189 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
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PCT/GB98/01971 |
Jul 3, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/468 ;
525/54.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 9/1652 20130101;
C08B 37/003 20130101; C08G 81/00 20130101; A61K 9/5146 20130101;
A61K 9/5161 20130101; A61K 9/5192 20130101; A61K 9/0034 20130101;
A61K 47/61 20170801; A61K 9/0043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/468 ;
525/054.2 |
International
Class: |
A61K 009/22; C08G
063/91 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 1997 |
GB |
9713980.2 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A composition for the controlled release of a drug comprising a
polyethylene glycol- chitosan conjugate, wherein the polyethylene
glycol-chitosan conjugate comprises a chitosan or chitosan
derivative moiety and a polyethylene glycol or a polyethylene
glycol derivative moiety, and the composition is formulated for
delivery to a mucosal membrane.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan
derivative moiety has a molecular weight of 10 kD to 1000 kD.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chitosan or chitosan
derivative moiety has a molecular weight of 20 kD to 500 kD.
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan
derivative moiety has a molecular weight of 100 kD to 300 kD.
5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyethylene
glycol-chitosan conjugate is represented by the formula (I):
--[.sub.m--NR.sup.1.sub.2].s- ub.p-- (I) wherein C.sub.m is a
remainder of a monomeric unit of a chitosan or a chitosan
derivative moiety; p is an integer of 50 to 6000; R.sup.1 is
independently selected from a hydrogen atom and 13wherein R.sup.2
is selected from a bond and a first divalent organic group; X is
selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, and the group
--NR.sup.3--, wherein R.sup.3 is selected from a hydrogen atom and
a monovalent organic group; and [PEG] is a polyethylene glycol or
polyethylene glycol derivative moiety, provided that 1% to 99% of
the groups represented by R.sup.1 is 14
6. The composition of claim 5, wherein C.sub.m is the remainder of
the monomeric unit of chitosan.
7. The composition of claim 5, wherein p is an integer of 150 to
2,000.
8. The composition of claim 5, wherein [PEG] is
--R.sup.4--(OCH.sub.2CH.su- b.2).sub.n--, and R.sup.4 is a
hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an
aliphatic hydrocarbon, an alicyclic hydrocarbon, and an aromatic
hydrocarbon, and n is an integer of 10 to 1,000.
9. The composition of claim 8, wherein R.sup.4 is an alkyl
group.
10. The composition of claim 8, wherein R.sup.4 is a methyl
group.
11. The composition of claim 5, wherein R.sup.2 is 15wherein
R.sup.5 is a divalent organic group that is bonded to the carbonyl
group of R.sup.1.
12. The composition of claim 5, wherein R.sup.2 is 16and R.sup.6 is
independently selected from a linear or a branched alkyl group
having one to four carbon atoms and R.sup.7 is a divalent organic
group.
13. The composition of claim 11, wherein R.sup.5 is selected from
the group consisting of 17wherein R.sup.6 is independently selected
from a linear or a branched alkyl group, and R.sup.7 is a divalent
organic group; and 18wherein each of R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10,
and R.sup.11 is independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a
linear or branched alkyl group having one to three carbon
atoms.
14. The composition of claim 1, which has been prepared by
compression and is intended for delivery to the gastrointestinal
tract.
15. The composition of claim 1, which is in the form of
microspheres, microparticles or matrices.
16. The composition of claim 1 for administration to the nasal
cavity, the buccal cavity or the vaginal cavity.
17. A method for the preparation of a composition for the
controlled release of a drug across a mucosal membrane comprising a
polyethylene glycol-chitosan conjugate, the method comprising
preparing the polyethylene glycol-chitosan conjugate by bonding the
amino function of an activated chitosan species to a polyethylene
glycol or polyethylene glycol derivative moiety.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the activated chitosan species
is prepared using bis(acrylamide).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/350,714, filed Jan. 24, 2003, which in turn claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/462,189, filed Sep.
29, 2000, which is an entry under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of
International Application No. PCT/GB98/01971, filed Jul. 3, 1998,
and published in the English language on Jan. 14, 1999, the
contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention concerns a novel conjugate between
chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG-chitosan conjugate) that may
be used in biomedical applications and particularly in the fields
of antisense and gene therapy, drug absorption enhancement and
targeting using particulate carriers.
[0003] Chitosan is a biopolymer material that is derived from
chitin. Chemically, chitosan is a polyglucosamine, a linear polymer
of .beta.(1.fwdarw.4) linked 2-amino-2-deoxy-D glucopyranose.
Chitosan can be derived from chitin through a process of
deacetylation. While chitin is insoluble, chitosan in its salt form
can demonstrate acceptable solubilities at pHs below 7.0. Chitosan
is believed to be non-toxic and can be administered to mucosal
surfaces.
[0004] Various applications for chitosan have been described in the
prior art including its use in wound healing, controlled drug
delivery, as a bioadhesive material and to improve the solubility
of poorly soluble compounds. More recently, it has been discovered
that chitosan, because of its positive charge, can have an effect
upon the tight junctions between cells. It has been shown to be
effective in improving the paracellular transport of drugs,
particularly those that are polar in character. A detailed review
of the medical applications of chitosan can be found in the article
by Hon in Polysaccharaides in Medical Applications, Ed. Dumitru,
S., Dekker, New York, 1996, pages 631-649. Specific examples of
medical applications for chitosan can also be found in
International Application Publication No. PCT/GB90/00291, in
Artursson, et al., Pharm. Res. 11, 1358, 1994, and in Illum, et
al., Pharm. Res. 11, 1186, 1994.
[0005] Chitosan can be obtained in a range of molecular weights
from oligomeric materials containing a few units of glucosamine
through to higher molecular weight materials of more than 200,000
Daltons. In pharmaceutical applications, the higher molecular
weights from 50,000 to 500,000 Daltons are normally preferred.
Chitosan can also be obtained in different degrees of
deacetylation, but the materials that have a deacetylation of
between 60 and 90% are normally preferred. Chitosan can be obtained
from various sources, including shellfish, fungi, and other
materials. A pharmaceutical grade of chitosan is available from
Pronova Limited of Norway.
[0006] Because chitosan carries a positive charge, it can be used
to interact with negatively charged surfaces as well as with other
negatively charged materials including pharmaceuticals. Chitosan
can also be used to modify the surfaces of carrier particles. For
example, liposomes have been described where chitosan has been
bound to their surfaces (Takeuchiu, et al. (1994), Chem. Pharm.
Bull. 42, 1954-1956).
[0007] Chitosan can be employed in solution, as a powder material,
in microspheres, or can be used as a film-forming agent.
[0008] It is also known to modify chitosan chemically to produce
derivatives with new properties. Examples include N-acylchitosans,
N-carboxyalkyl chitosans, N-carboxyacyl chitosans, and
O-carboxyalkyl chitosans.
[0009] Sample admixtures of chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG)
are known. For example, chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) polymer
networks have been described by Patel and Amiji (Polymer Preprints,
ACS Division of Polymer Chem. 1994, 352, 403 and ACS Symposium
Series, 627, Hydrogels and biodegradable polymers for
bioapplications, page 209). The hydrogel was prepared by dissolving
chitosan in acetic acid to produce a solution. Polyethylene glycol
having a molecular weight of 10 kilodaltons (kD) to 1 megadalton
(mD) was dissolved in acetic acid and the resulting solution added
to the chitosan solution to prepare a physical blend. The blend was
then cross-linked with glyoxal to form the gel system. There was no
suggestion in the work of Patel and Amiji to bond polyethylene
glycol, also known as polyethylene oxide, directly to chitosan to
form a PEG- chitosan conjugate.
[0010] Chitosan/polymer hydrogels have also been described by Peng,
et al. (J. Polymer Science Part A, Polymer Chemistry 32, 591-596,
1994). Here also the chitosan and a polymer (polyoxypropylene
glycol) were mixed at acidic pH and then cross-linked with
glutaraldehyde.
[0011] The attachment of polyethylene glycol to polymeric materials
including proteins, carbohydrates, and phospholipids is known--see,
for example, the article by Zalipsky, Advances in Drug Delivery
Research, 16, 157-182 (1995). This process is often referred to as
PEGylation and this term will be used herein. The various chemical
procedures have their advantages and disadvantages including the
complexity of the method involved, the ability to control the
PEGylation of the selected molecule, the reversibility or
degradability of the polyethylene glycol polymer linkage, the use
of expensive or toxic solvents, etc.
[0012] PCT/GB95/00686 describes microspheres for biomedical uses
which contain a substantially spherical core particle of a
non-water soluble polymer and an outer surface consisting
substantially of a water soluble polymer. The water soluble polymer
is conjugated to polyethylene glycol and the non-water soluble core
particle is attached to the water soluble polymer by the
polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. The patent application describes
detailed examples using PEG-dextran conjugates. Chitosan is also
mentioned as a water soluble polymer in the preparation of such
microspheres, but no PEG-chitosan conjugates were actually
prepared. Moreover, there was no disclosure of particles in which
the PEG moieties were pendant and exposed to the external
environment.
[0013] Ouchi, et al., describes the preparation of PEG-chitosan by
acylating the amino groups on the polysaccharide with the
monomethyl ether of PEG as the carboxylate and then covalently
bonding this compound to 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) to produce a
material for cancer chemotherapy (Ouchi, et al., J. Macromol. Sci.
Chem., A28, 959, 1991) ("Ouchi"). The active ester method was used
to prepare the PEG-chitosan products in Ouchi and the chitosan was
a low molecular weight material having a degree of polymerization
of 30 which had been produced by acid treatment of chitosan. The
5-Fu attached to the end of the PEG chain in the PEG-chitosan
conjugate and the resulting soluble complex was administered by
injection.
[0014] Ouchi did not consider that an unmodified PEG-chitosan
conjugate could be used for the delivery of anionic macromolecular
drugs, such as antisense oligonucleotides and DNA (nucleic acids),
nor did they consider that the unmodified conjugate could be used
as a coating agent in the field of colloidal drug delivery through
the interaction of the positively charged chitosan with negatively
charged surfaces and negatively charged colloidal particles.
Furthermore, there was no suggestion in Ouchi that such positively
charged PEG-chitosan conjugates might be used to provide increased
absorption of drugs across mucosal surfaces through their
interaction with negatively charged mucus or negatively charged
surfaces of epithelial cells.
[0015] In the field of gene therapy, it is often important to be
able to compact a plasmid material comprising nucleic acids into a
small particle for improved administration. The prior art describes
how this may be accomplished using cationic polymers such as
polylysine as well as cationic lipids (see for example Tomlinson
and Rowland, J. Control. Rel. 39, 357-372 (1995), Mumper, et al.,
Pharm Res. 13, 701-709 (1996)). A co-pending patent application
PCT/GB97/00022 describes how such compaction can also be achieved
using polyamidoamines to which polyethylene glycol has been
attached.
[0016] However, no examples have been reported where PEG-chitosan
was used for the improved compaction of plasmid DNA.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The invention is directed to a composition for the systemic
uptake of a drug across a mucosal membrane. The composition
includes a polyethylene glycol-chitosan conjugate. The conjugate
includes a chitosan or a chitosan derivative moiety and a
polyethylene glycol or a polyethylene glycol derivative moiety. The
composition is formulated for delivery to a mucosal membrane. In a
preferred embodiment, the composition contains a polyethylene
glycol-chitosanic conjugate represented by the formula:
--[C.sub.m--NR.sup.1.sub.2].sub.p--, wherein C.sub.m is a remainder
of a monomeric unit of a chitosan or a chitosan derivative moiety;
p is an integer of 50 to 6000; R.sup.1 is independently selected
from a hydrogen atom and 1
[0018] wherein R.sup.2 is selected from a bond and a first divalent
organic group; X is selected from an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and
the group --NR.sup.3--, wherein R.sup.3 is selected from a hydrogen
atom and a monovalent organic group; and [PEG] is a polyethylene
glycol or polyethylene glycol derivative moiety, provided that 1%
to 99% of the groups represented by R.sup.1 is 2
[0019] Also provided is a method for the preparation of a
composition for systemic uptake of a drug across a mucosal
membrane, where the composition used in the method includes a
polyethylene glycol-chitosan conjugate. In the method, one prepares
the polyethylene glycol chitosan conjugate by bonding the amino
function of an activated chitosan species to a polyethylene glycol
or to a polyethylene glycol derivative moiety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be
better understood when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It
should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to
the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0021] In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the effect of added
Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 on the properties of polystyrene particles (190
nm) coated with chitosan or PEG-chitosan.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the effect of increasing chitosan
and PEG-chitosan concentrations on the size of the complexes formed
between these materials and DNA.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effect of adding chitosan and
PEG-chitosan on the fluorescence of a DNA/ethidium bromide
complex.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] We have discovered that the modification of chitosan by the
covalent bonding of a polyethylene glycol moiety to the chitosan
molecule through the amino function (PEGylation) results in a
polymer conjugate material that can display beneficial
pharmaceutical properties and provides an opportunity for
improvements in the delivery of drugs, vaccines, diagnostic agents
as well as for nucleic acids in the field of gene therapy. In
particular, the PEG-chitosan conjugate may be interacted with
anionic materials, such as antisense oligonucleotides and DNA
(nucleic acid), and may be used to enhance drug absorption or for
targeting using particulate carriers.
[0026] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided a polymer conjugate comprising a chitosan moiety or a
derivative thereof and a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety or a
derivative thereof which are bonded together via the amino function
on the chitosan by the use of an activated chitosan species.
[0027] According to a second aspect of the present invention there
is provided a polymer conjugate comprising a chitosan moiety or a
derivative thereof and a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety or a
derivative thereof which are bonded together, the chitosan portion
of the conjugate having a molecular weight in the range of from 10
kilodaltons to 1000 kilodaltons.
[0028] According to a third aspect of the present invention there
is provided a composition comprising a complex formed between a
PEG-chitosan conjugate and a therapeutic agent selected from the
group consisting of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids. The
PEG-chitosan conjugate comprises a chitosan moiety or a derivative
thereof and a polyethylene glycol moiety or a derivative thereof
which are bonded together.
[0029] According to yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided particular compositions comprising a polymer
conjugate in the form of chitosan covalently attached to
polyethylene glycol that can be used in drug delivery.
[0030] Chitosan is a polymeric material comprising repeating
monomeric units having the formula: 3
[0031] where p is an integer and represents the number of monomeric
units in the chitosan chain, i.e., the degree of
polymerization.
[0032] In addition to the monomeric units shown above, chitosan
will generally contain a proportion of the monomeric units found in
chitin. This proportion will depend on the degree of deacetylation.
Typically, the degree of deacetylation is in the range of from 99%
to 10%, and is preferably in the range of from 90% to 20%, more
preferably in the range of from 85% to 40%.
[0033] It is possible to vary the degree of conversion of the
chitosan to the PEGylated form by controlling the chemical reaction
used to form the conjugate and so have a range of PEG-chitosan
complexes for different pharmaceutical applications. The
polyethylene glycol moiety may well increase the solubility of the
PEG-chitosan conjugate or, more importantly, the solubility of a
PEG- chitosan conjugate that has been complexed with a therapeutic
agent such as a drug or a nucleic acid.
[0034] The conversion of the amino (NH.sub.2) functions within
chitosan to the PEGylated form can be within the range of 1 to 99%.
However, it is preferred that the conversion is in the range 10 to
90% and more preferably in the range of 10 to 50%.
[0035] When it is desired to use the PEG-chitosan conjugate to
interact with a drug or a biological membrane or to modify the
tight junction of a mucosal surface or to coat a negatively charged
microparticle, then the PEG-chitosan conjugate should have a
residual positive charge.
[0036] In one embodiment, the PEG-chitosan conjugate should retain
sufficient positive charge to allow it to interact with negatively
charged (anionic) materials such as oligonucleotides or nucleic
acids (DNA) and provide for compaction of the anionic species. By
compaction we mean reduction in particle size as measured by a
technique such as atomic free microscopy or photon correlation
spectroscopy.
[0037] In another embodiment, the PEG-chitosan conjugate should
have sufficient positive charge to allow it to interact with
negatively charged colloidal carriers intended for drug delivery,
such as emulsions, liposomes, microspheres, and microcapsules as
well as negatively charged drug particles of a size less than 100
microns.
[0038] In yet another embodiment, the PEG-chitosan conjugate should
have a sufficient positive charge to interact with mucin or
epithelial cells.
[0039] A positive charge on the PEG-chitosan conjugate can be
evaluated by studying the interaction of the conjugate with a
negatively charged polymer so that a polyelectrolyte complex is
formed as described by Terayama in J. Polymer Science, 8, 243
(1952). Alternatively, the PEG- chitosan conjugate can be absorbed
onto a polymer particle such as a polystyrene microsphere of about
1 micron in size and in the charge on the system evaluated by
particle microelectrophoresis using an apparatus such as the
Malvern Zeta Sizer. By a sufficient positive charge for interacting
with the above described anionic species, we typically mean a
charge, measured as the Zeta potential, of at least 1 mV and
preferably in the range of from 1 to 200 mV at pH 7.4 in 1 mM HEPES
buffer. In order that the PEG-chitosan conjugate has sufficient
positive charge, not more than 90% of the amine groups in chitosan
should be PEGylated.
[0040] The person skilled in the art will be able to ascertain the
degree of conversion necessary to meet the required pharmaceutical
application.
[0041] The chitosans used for the preparation of the PEG-chitosan
conjugates can have a molecular weight in the range of from 10 kD
to 1000 kD, but more preferably will have a molecular weight in the
range of from 10 kD to 500 kD, e.g., 20 kD to 500 kD, particularly
from 30 kD to 300 kD, e.g., between 100 kD and 300 kD.
[0042] The degree of polymerization of the chitosans used in the
preparation of the PEG- chitosan conjugates is typically in the
range of from 50 to 6000, preferably in the range of from 100 to
3000 and particularly in the range of from 150 to 2000.
[0043] The polyethylene glycol content of the PEG-chitosan
conjugate is typically from 1 to 50% on a weight basis, preferably
from 5 to 20%.
[0044] Chitosans that have been derived by modification of the
hydroxyl function could also be used. Such derivatives include
O-acetylated and alkylated materials such as O-benzoyl chitosan and
O-sulphated chitosans as detailed in Chitin Chemistry, A F Roberts,
Macmillan, 1992, p. 166. Thus, in the present invention, the
chitosan moiety in the PEG-chitosan conjugate may be a chitosan
derivative and by the term chitosan we are also intending to
include derivatives thereof. Preferably, however, the chitosan is
unmodified.
[0045] The PEG-chitosan conjugate can be used to modify surfaces
that are negatively charged or to interact with or form complexes
with negatively charged molecules such as DNA, DNA plasmids or
nucleic acids. The positively charged chitosan can bind strongly to
such a negative surface and in doing so will expose the PEG group
to the external environment. Such an exposed polyethylene glycol
group will tend to provide for steric stabilization. This can lead
to an improved stability, e.g., for a colloidal disperson, but can
also have important biological implications in minimizing the
uptake of proteins to the surface of a particle, e.g., when the
particle is injected into the bloodstream or administered to a body
compartment.
[0046] The PEG-chitosan conjugate or adduct may be prepared using
techniques known in the art for bonding PEG moieties to polymeric
materials.
[0047] In one embodiment, the PEG-chitosan conjugate is prepared by
a process comprising the steps of:
[0048] (1) preparing an activated PEG or an activated PEG
derivative by incorporating an acrylic ester, an acrylic thioester
or an acryloamido group into the PEG or PEG derivative;
[0049] (2) reacting the activated PEG or PEG derivative with
chitosan; and
[0050] (3) recovering the conjugate of the PEG or PEG derivative
and chitosan.
[0051] This process allows the reaction between the PEG or PEG
derivative and chitosan to be controlled.
[0052] By a PEG derivative we mean a modified polyethylene glycol,
for example polyethylene glycol in which one or both of the
terminal hydroxyl groups has been previously modified. Suitable PEG
derivatives include alkoxy PEGs in which a terminal hydroxyl
group(s) has been converted into an alkoxy group, i.e., a group
having the formula RO-- in which R is alkyl. Preferred PEG
derivatives are those comprising a single alkoxy terminal group.
Preferred alkoxy groups are C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, such as methoxy.
[0053] The preparation of a PEG or PEG derivative carrying an
acrylic ester group can be carried out by reacting a PEG or PEG
derivative containing a hydroxyl function with acryloyl
chloride.
[0054] The preparation of a PEG or PEG derivative carrying an
acrylic thioester group can be carried out by reacting a PEG or PEG
derivative containing a sulfhydryl group with acryloyl chloride.
The preparation of a PEG or PEG derivative carrying an acrylamido
group can performed by reacting PEG or PEG derivative containing
one primary or secondary amine function with acryloyl chloride. The
activated PEG or PEG derivative can be characterized by Gel
Permeation Chromatography (GPC), FT-IR and UV spectroscopy. The
degree of activation can be determined by end-group titration which
involves adding an excess of 2-mercaptoethanol and titrating excess
thiol with a calibrated KI/I.sub.2 solution, or by UV spectroscopy,
after calibration with a standard acrylamide or acrylic ester such
as N-acryloylmorpholine or tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate,
conducted at 233 nm.
[0055] Activated PEGs or activated PEG derivatives can be stored
for several months at T.ltoreq.4.degree. C. in the presence of a
desiccant. A radical inhibitor such as 4-methoxyphenol may also be
added to prevent radical polymerization.
[0056] The reaction of the activated PEG or activated PEG
derivative with chitosan is preferably preformed in an aqueous
media. Alcohols or alcohol/water mixtures can also be used. The pH
of reaction medium is preferably at least 8 and typically in the
range of 8 to 9. The preferred reaction temperature is between 20
and 30.degree. C. and typical reaction times are 12-48 hours. The
occurrence of vinyl radical polymerization is inhibited by
conducting the reaction under inert atmosphere, in the dark and in
the presence of a radical inhibitor such as 4-methoxyphenol. The
molecular weight of the PEG or the PEG portion in the case of a PEG
derivative is typically between 1 and 30 kD, preferably between 2
and 20 kD and more preferably between 2 and 10 kD.
[0057] Recovery of the PEG-chitosan conjugate or adduct is
generally carried out by ultrafiltration in water or by evaporating
the reaction solvent and extracting the crude material with a new
solvent.
[0058] The purity of the adduct can be assessed by GPC, FT-IR, NMR
and UV spectroscopy. Checking for residual activated PEG or
activated PEG derivative is usually performed
spectrophotometrically at 233 nm.
[0059] The method can have advantages over other PEGylation
processes known in the art because;
[0060] (a) free base is the species reacting with the double bond
so that the reaction rate tends to increase with increase in pH,
i.e., with increasing the concentration of free base;
[0061] (b) no by-product is produced during the reaction; and
[0062] (c) the aminic character of the amino groups on the chitosan
is not changed as a consequence of the grafting reaction.
[0063] In another embodiment, the PEG-chitosan conjugate is
prepared by a process which involves activating the chitosan rather
than the PEG or PEG derivative. Activation of the chitosan is
preferably achieved by adding a large excess of a bis(acrylamide)
to the chitosan. After the chitosan has reacted with the
bis(acrylamide), the excess bis(acrylamide) is preferably removed
and the activated chitosan reacted with a PEG or PEG derivative,
preferably a monofunctional PEG carrying a hydroxyl, sulfhydryl or
primary or secondary amino group.
[0064] Accordingly, in a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a process for preparing a PEG-chitosan conjugate
comprising the steps of:
[0065] (1) preparing an activated chitosan by reacting it with a
bis(acrylamide);
[0066] (2) optionally removing any excess bis(acrylamide);
[0067] (3) reacting the activated chitosan with a PEG or PEG
derivative, preferably a monofunctional PEG carrying a hydroxyl,
sulfhydryl or primary or secondary amino group, and
[0068] (4) recovering the conjugate of the monofunctional PEG and
chitosan.
[0069] Grafting bis(acrylamide) to chitosan may make the chitosan
more soluble or at least more swellable at pH.gtoreq.8 and,
moreover, may provide for reactive functions which are more
accessible than the original NH.sub.2 groups which are close to the
main polymer chain.
[0070] Furthermore, activating the chitosan with bis(acrylamide)
may allow higher amounts of PEG to be grafted or bonded to the
chitosan.
[0071] The PEG-chitosan conjugates prepared by the above described
methods comprise a chitosan moiety and a PEG moiety which are
joined together through a linking group or coupling moiety having
the formula --CH.sub.2CH.sub.2C(O)--R.sup.2--X--. The linking group
is bonded to the amino nitrogen on the chitosan moiety via the
--CH.sub.2CH.sub.2-- group and to the PEG moiety via the X group.
In the linking group, R.sup.2 is a bond or a divalent organic
group, X is oxygen, sulphur or --NR.sup.3-- and R.sup.3 is H or an
organic group such as alkyl, e.g., C.sub.1-10 alkyl.
[0072] Accordingly, in a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a PEG- chitosan conjugate having the formula:
[0073] --[C.sub.m--NR.sup.1.sub.2].sub.p-- (I)
[0074] wherein:
[0075] C.sub.m is the remainder of the monomeric unit making up the
chitosan moiety or a derivative of such a monomeric unit;
[0076] p is an integer and represents the number of monomeric units
of formula --C.sub.m--NR.sup.1.sub.2-- in the chitosan moiety,
[0077] each R.sup.1 is independently H or a group -A-PEG providing
that at least proportion of the R.sup.1 groups are -A-PEG;
[0078] each PEG is independently a polyethylene glycol moiety or a
derivative thereof;
[0079] each A is independently a linking group having the formula
--CH.sub.2CH.sub.2--C(O)--R.sup.2--X-- which is bonded to the amino
nitrogen on the chitosan moiety via the --CH.sub.2CH.sub.2-- group
and to the PEG moiety via the X group;
[0080] R.sup.2 is a bond or a divalent organic group;
[0081] X is oxygen, sulphur or --NR.sup.3--; and
[0082] R.sup.3 is H or an organic group,
[0083] or a physiologically acceptable derivative thereof.
[0084] For the avoidance of doubt, in referring to C.sub.m as the
remainder of the monomeric unit making up the chitosan moiety we
are referring to a group which together with the --NH.sub.2-- group
makes up the full monomeric unit found in chitosan. Thus, the
complete monomeric unit itself has the formula C.sub.m--NH.sub.2.
By a derivative of such a monomeric unit we are referring to
physiologically acceptable derivatives in which a hydroxyl group
has been modified. Suitable derivatives include O-acetylated and
alkylated materials such as O-benzoyl chitosan and O-sulphated
chitosans as detailed in Chitin Chemistry, A F Roberts, MacMillan
1992, p. 166.
[0085] C.sub.m is preferably the remainder of the monomeric unit
making up the chitosan.
[0086] p is preferably an integer in the range of from 50 to 6000,
more preferably in the range of from 100 to 3000 and particularly
in the range of from 150 to 2000.
[0087] PEG is preferably a modified polyethylene glycol moiety
having the formula R.sup.4--(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.n-- where
R.sup.4 is an aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon group,
such as an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, and n is an
integer. Preferably R.sup.4 is alkyl, more preferably C.sub.1-10
alkyl, e.g., C.sub.1-4 alkyl, and especially methyl. n is suitably
in the range of from 10 to 1000 and is preferably in the range of
from 10 to 100.
[0088] R.sup.2 is preferably a bond or a divalent organic group
having the formula: 4
[0089] where R.sup.5 is a divalent group which is bonded to the
carbonyl (C(O)) group of linking group A. Preferably R.sup.5 is
bonded to the carbonyl group in Formula II above and the carbonyl
group of linking group A via nitrogen atoms. More preferably,
R.sup.5 is a group having the formula: 5
[0090] where each R.sup.6 is independently a linear or branched
C.sub.1-4 alkyl chain, R.sup.7 is a divalent organic group,
particularly a linear or branched C.sub.1-4 alkylene chain and
R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, and R.sup.11 are each independently H
or a linear or branched C.sub.1-3 alkyl chain.
[0091] X is preferably oxygen or --NR.sup.3--.
[0092] Suitable organic groups for R.sup.3 include hydrocarbon
groups such as alkyl, e.g. C.sub.1-10 alkyl. Preferably R.sup.3 is
a hydrogen atom (H).
[0093] The structure of the PEG-chitosan conjugates resulting from
the two methods described above is somewhat different. For example,
if we employ an aminated monomethoxy-PEG having the structure:
6
[0094] and if chitosan is represented as: 7
[0095] where 8
[0096] represents the polymeric chain in chitosan and --NH.sub.2
represents a single primary amine group in the chain, then the
conjugate prepared by activating the aminated monomethoxy-PEG with
an acrylamido group and reacting the activated compound with
chitosan has the structure: 9
[0097] In contrast, if the alternative process is employed in which
the chitosan is activated by reacting it with a bis(acrylamide)
having the structure: 10
[0098] where R.sup.5 is a group having the formula: 11
[0099] the corresponding conjugate has the following structure:
12
[0100] wherein:
[0101] R is hydrogen or a second PEG chain bound to chitosan in the
same way, that is through an acrylamide (method 1) or a
bis(acrylamide) (method 2) coupling moiety;
[0102] R.sup.6 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-4 alkyl chain;
[0103] R.sup.7 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-4 alkylene chain;
and
[0104] R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, and R.sup.11 are each
independently H or a linear or branched C.sub.1-3 alkyl chain.
[0105] In drug targeting and drug delivery, as well as in
diagnostic imaging and in the administration of vaccine systems,
particulate materials in the form of emulsions, liposomes,
microparticles, microcapsules, and nanoparticules are employed.
Such particles often carry a net negative charge. It is often
important to be to modify this negative charge through the process
of surface modification. For example, as mentioned above, the
properties of liposomes can be modified by the adsorption of
chitosan. It is now possible through the present invention to
modify such particles with the PEG-chitosan system so that the
particle carries not only a positive charge but a polyethylene
glycol group that will provide for steric stabilization and
beneficial biological and physical properties.
[0106] In the field of gene therapy, it is often important to be
able to compact a plasmid material comprising nucleic acids into a
small particle for improved administration. We have discovered that
a PEG-chitosan conjugate can be used to compact plasmid DNA. The
compacts produced should have enhanced solubility and beneficial
properties for the interaction with cells and the subsequent
expression of the gene product.
[0107] The PEG-chitosan material described herein could be further
modified by the attachment of targeting ligands to the hydroxyl and
unmodified amino functions in order to achieve site specific
targeting. Such ligands can take the form of sugars and proteins.
The latter can include monoclonal antibodies and fragments thereof.
The sugars include mannose, fucose, and galactose. The choice of
sugar will be dictated by the nature of the tissue or cell that is
identified as the target site. For example, a complex of
PEG-chitosan with DNA could be targeted to the liver by the
covalent attachment of a triantennary galactose moiety.
[0108] The present invention is now illustrated but not limited
with reference to the following examples.
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of PEG-chitosan Using Activated PEG
[0109] (A) Preparation of Monomethoxy-PEG Piperazinyl Formate
(MPEG-PF)
[0110] Monomethoxy-PEG 1900 (12.26 g, 6.45 mmol) was dissolved in
"alcohol-free" CHCl.sub.3 (60 ml). The solution was dried overnight
over calcium hydride, which was then removed by filtration.
1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole of 97% purity (2.16 g, 12.9 mmol) was then
added and the resulting solution allowed to stand at 30.degree. C.
for 30 minutes after which cold water was added (10 ml) and the
mixture stirred for 10 minutes. After separation of the phases,
anhydrous piperazine (0.56 g, 12.0 mmol) was added to the organic
phase and allowed to react for 20 hours at 25.degree. C. The
solution was then diluted with CHCl.sub.3 (100 ml), extracted with
water (5.times.30 ml), dried with Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, filtered,
concentrated in vacuo to 60 ml and finally poured into diethyl
ether at about 10.degree. C. The powder which precipitated out was
collected by filtration and dried to constant weight at 0.1 torr.
The yield was 10.64 g. The GPC chromatogram exhibited one peak with
retention time 1030 sec. The FT-IR spectrum showed a band in the
urethane region at 1703 cm.sup.-1. The molecular weight, determined
by potentiometric titration with 0.1 M HCl, was 2190.
[0111] (B) Preparation of Monomethoxy-PEG Acrylamide (MPEG-AA)
[0112] MPEG-PF (7.07 g; 3.23 mmol) was dissolved in dry,
"alcohol-free" CHCl.sub.3 (10 ml) and distilled water (2 ml) was
added. 2.4 ml of a 2M solution of acryloyl chloride in CHCl.sub.3
(4.8 mmol) and 2.4 ml of a 2M NaOH aqueous solution (4.8 mmol) were
then added together, drop-wise, under vigorous stirring while
maintaining the temperature at about 5.degree. C. Once the addition
was completed, the reaction mixture was left at 25.degree. C. in
the dark and under stirring for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was
then diluted with CHCl.sub.3 to 150 ml and washed in a separatory
funnel with 5% KNO.sub.3 (2.times.30 ml) and water (1.times.30 ml).
After drying with Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 and filtering, the volume was
reduced to about 50 ml by evaporating most of the CHCl.sub.3 in
vacuo. The solution was then diluted with diethyl ether (200 ml).
The product which precipitated out was collected by filtration and
dried to constant weight at 0.1 torr. The yield was 6.05 g. The GPS
chromatogram exhibited one peak with retention time 1020 sec. The
FT-IR spectrum was very similar to that of starting MPEG-PF, but
showed an amidic band at 1649 cm.sup.-1. The molecular weight,
determined spectrophotometrically at 233 nm in water using the
calibration curve of N-acryloylmorpholine, was 2300.
[0113] (C) PEGylation of Chitosan
[0114] Chitosan hydrochloric salt (SeaCure CL 113) (1.03 g, 5.2
meq), MPEG-AA (3.91 g, 1.7 mmol) and 4-methoxyphenol (5 mg) were
dissolved in distilled water and the pH of this mixture was raised
to 8 by adding drop wise and under vigorous stirring triethylamine
dissolved in a 3:1H.sub.2O/CH.sub.3OH mixture. A precipitate was
formed at pH>7. The reaction mixture was stirred at 25.degree. C
under a nitrogen atmosphere and in the dark for 10 days. The pH was
brought up to 3-4 by addition of diluted HCl and the resulting
solution was freeze-dried. The powder was collected, extracted in a
Soxhlet apparatus with a 3:1 diethyl ether/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 mixture
and dried in vacuo up to constant weight. The yield was 1.20 g.
[0115] The UV spectrum recorded in water did not exhibit any peak
at 233 nm indicating that no residual MPEG-AA was present. In the
FT-IR spectrum a shoulder at around 1700 cm.sup.-1 was detected
which was absent from the spectrum for native chitosan so
indicating the presence of grafted PEG. Elemental analyses
performed on the product (C: 37.69%, H:7.17%, N: 5.78%, CL:
14.09%), on starting chitosan (C: 34.91%, H: 6.42%, N: 6.56%, Cl:
17.04%) and on MPEG-AA (C: 54.49%, H: 8.87%, N: 1.25%) established
that the PEG content was 14% by weight. Mohr titration of chloride
ions executed on both the product and native chitosan confirmed
this value.
[0116] The same process as described above has been used to prepare
PEG-chitosan complexes from chitosans having molecular weight in
the range 10,000 to 500,000 Daltons and from polyethylene glycol
materials having molecular weights in the range 750 to 10,000
Daltons. The degree of conversion of the chitosan to the PEGylated
form can be controlled through the chemical reaction.
[0117] In the above method for preparing the PEG-chitosan
conjugate, it could be beneficial to increase the solubility of the
chitosan at pH>7, and we have found that isobutyric acid gives a
more soluble chitosan salt at about pH 7 compared to hydrochloric
acid.
Example 2
Preparation of PEG Chitosan Using Activated Chitosan
[0118] (A) Preparation of monomethoxy-PEG piperazinyl formate
(MPEG-PF)
[0119] Monomethoxy-PEG piperazinyl formate (MPEG-PF) was prepared
using exactly the same technique as described in Example 1 (part A)
above, but using monomethoxy-PEG 550 (3.55 g, 6.45 mmol) instead of
monomethoxy-PEG 1900. The yield was 5.18 g.
[0120] (B) PEGylation of Chitosan
[0121] Chitosan (Fluka; MW=70000) (0.40 g, 2.5 meq) was dissolved
in distilled water (30 mls) containing isobutyric acid (0.22 g, 2.5
meq). 1,4-bis(acryloylpiperazine) (2.43 g, 12.5 mmol) was then
added to the chitosan solution and allowed to react for 24 hours at
25.degree. C. in the dark and under a nitrogen atmosphere.
Unreacted 1,4-bis(acryloylpiperazine) was. then removed by
extraction with chloroform (8.times.5 ml). MPEG-PF was then added
(3.25 g, 5.0 meq) to the aqueous phase and allowed to react for 10
days at 25.degree. C. in the dark and under a nitrogen atmosphere,
the pH being adjusted to 7 by the addition of isobutyric acid. The
solution was freeze dried, extracted in the Soxhlet apparatus with
a 3:1 diethyl ether/CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 mixture and dried in vacuo to
constant weight. The yield was 0.38 g.
[0122] Grafting of the PEG onto the chitosan was confirmed by FT-IR
spectroscopy with a peak being observed at 1700 cm.sup.-1 which is
typical of PEG-piperazinyl formate and absent in native chitosan.
From the ratio of the area of this peak to that at 1630 cm.sup.-1
(which is typical of chitosan), the PEG content was calculated to
be around 20% by weight.
EXAMPLE 3
The Physical Adsorption of PEG-chitosan to Colloidal Particles
[0123] To illustrate the physical adsorption of PEG-chitosan to
particles, polystyrene nanoparticles were used as a model system.
The polystyrene particles were purchased from IDC Spheres,
Interfacial Dynamics Corp., USA. The particles were stabilized with
negative sulphate groups. The particle size of the unmodified
lattices, as measured by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS)
(Malvern S4700, UK), was 190 nm.
[0124] Samples of the polystyrene particles were coated with either
chitosan (SeaCure CL 113) or with a PEG-chitosan conjugate. The
PEG-chitosan conjugate was prepared as in Example 1 from chitosan
SeaCure CL 113 obtained from Pronova Ltd., Norway. The chitosan had
an average molecular weight of about 50 kD and an intrinsic
viscosity of 153 ml/g. About 12% of the amino functions were
acetylated (88% deacetylated). The average molecular weight of the
attached PEG was 2100 and the degree of PEGylation 15%.
[0125] Different quantities of the chitosan and PEG-chitosan
conjugate were added to 10 ml glass test tubes (0-100 .mu.g)
together with 1.5 ml of purified water. 0.5 ml of a 0.1% suspension
of polystyrene particles was then added (representing 500 .mu.g of
particles) drop wise with vigorous stirring for 2 hours. The effect
of the adsorbed chitosan and PEG-chitosan on the zeta potential of
the particles was measured using a Malvern Zeta Sizer (Mark IV),
Malvern Instruments, UK, at pH 7 4 in 1 mM HEPES buffer.
[0126] The uncoated polystyrene particles carried a net negative
charge of -50 mV. The addition of chitosan or PEG-chitosan gave
rise to a rapid charge reversal as measured using a Zeta Sizer so
that the polystyrene particles carried a net positive charge of +20
mV upon the addition of 100 .mu.g of chitosan or PEG-chitosan to
500 .mu.g of the polystyrene particles suspended in 2 ml of an
aqueous buffer solution. Hence both chitosan and PEG-chitosan have
the ability to strongly adsorb to a negatively charged colloidal
particle and reverse the charge. The point of zero charge was
reached after the addition of 12 .mu.g of chitosan to the system
and 18 .mu.g of PEG-chitosan to the system, demonstrating the
difference between the PEGylated and unPEGylated materials. A
similar difference could be seen for the addition of the same
quantity of chitosan or PEG-chitosan to the system. For example,
for 20 .mu.g added cationic polymer the zeta potential was +13 mV
for the chitosan system and +5 mV for the PEG-chitosan system.
[0127] The addition of a positively charged polymer to a negatively
charged colloid such as polystyrene particles of 190 nm will give
rise to flocculation. This process was investigated by measuring
the optical density (OD) of the system at 600 nm after dilution
50:50 with the dispersion medium before measurement. For the
addition of chitosan, the concentration of cationic polymer
required to obtain a maximum OD of 0.66 was 5 .mu.g (added to 500
.mu.g of polystyrene particles in 4 ml). For the PEG-chitosan
system, a maximum OD of 0.66 was obtained at 1.0 .mu.g of
PEG-chitosan added to 500 .mu.g polystyrene particles suspended in
4 ml. Thus, both chitosan and PEG-chitosan cause flocculation of
negatively charged model colloidal particles, but the quantities
required were different so reflecting the difference between
PEG-chitosan and chitosan.
[0128] The ability of coated particles to withstand flocculation
was measured by studying the effect of added sodium sulphate
(Na.sub.2SO.sub.4). The Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 induced flocculation of
coated polystyrene particles (190 nm) was measured using a weight
ratio of chitosan or PEG-chitosan to particles of 1:5. The optical
density (OD) at 600 mm was used to assess the properties of the
coated particles.
[0129] FIG. 1 shows the effect of added Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 on the
properties of polystyrene particles (190 nm) coated with chitosan
and PEG-chitosan, respectively. (0.2 ml of polymer coated particles
(10 .mu.g chitosan or PEG-chitosan/501 g polystyrene) in 0-1.6 M
Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 solution). Both the chitosan and PEG-chitosan
coated particles were affected by low concentrations of
Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 (the uncoated particles required at least 0.25 M
Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 to commence a change in OD). The OD of the
chitosan coated particles remained constant at Na.sub.2SO.sub.4
concentrations above 0.8 M Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 while the PEG-chitosan
coated particles demonstrated a change in OD).
[0130] The results again demonstrate the difference between
chitosan and PEG-chitosan as coating materials.
EXAMPLE 4
Flocculation of Chitosan and PEG-Chitosan
[0131] The different properties of chitosan and PEG-chitosan can be
measured by the Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 induced flocculation of solutions
of the two cationic polymers. Two different quantities of the
chitosan and PEG-chitosan as described in Example 3 were suspended
in 0.4 ml of water, 0.1 mg and 1 mg. Then Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 was
added to induce flocculation. The degree of flocculation was
measured as previously as the OD at 600 nm. At an Na.sub.2SO.sub.4
concentration of 0.2 M the following OD figures were obtained.
1 PEG-chitosan (0.1 mg) OD = 0.005 Chitosan (0.1 mg) OD = 0.02
PEG-chitosan (1 mg) OD = 0.045 Chitosan (1 mg) OD = 0.13
[0132] The results show that for the same concentration of cationic
polymer, the PEG-chitosan system is more stable to Na.sub.2SO.sub.4
induced flocculation than chitosan.
Example 5
Compaction of DNA with PEG-Chitosan--Physiochemical Studies
[0133] In order to demonstrate the difference between the
compaction of DNA with chitosan and the compaction of DNA with the
PEG-chitosan conjugate, a model plasmid material was employed. This
is in the form of the plasmid CMV-CAT that encodes for
chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), a so-called reporter gene
system. The p-CAT material was obtained from Gene Medicine, Inc.,
Houston, USA.
[0134] The interaction between a plasmid and a cationic polymer can
be followed by a variety of techniques including the following:
[0135] (1) Particle size measurement on the complex using photon
correlation spectroscopy.
[0136] (2) Measuring the zeta potential of the plasmid-complexing
agent complex using particle microelectrophoresis.
[0137] (3) Measuring the state of compaction of the plasmid by
studying the fluorescence of the plasmid DNA material in the
presence of ethidium bromide.
[0138] (4) Titration microcalorimetry in which the heat of
interaction between the positively charged polymer conjugate and
the negatively charged DNA material is determined.
[0139] In this example and in Example 6 which follows, a number of
the above techniques were used to illustrate the differences
between compaction using chitosan and compaction with the
PEG-chitosan system. The PEG-chitosan was prepared from a sample of
SeaCure CL 113, where about 12% of the amino functions were
acetylated. The method described in Example 1 was employed. The
average molecular weight of the PEG bound to the chitosan was 2100.
Unmodified chitosan SeaCure CL 113 was used as a control.
[0140] Photon Correlation Spectroscopy and Zeta Potential
Measurements:
[0141] The pCAT-DNA/chitosan or the pCAT-DNA/PEG-chitosan complexes
were prepared in the following way to give different
pCAT-DNA/polymer ratios.
[0142] 81.1 .mu.g (100 .mu.l) of pCAT-DNA in 2 ml of ultra pure
water was slowly mixed with 525 .mu.g of chitosan or PEG-chitosan
(0.35 ml of a 0.15% solution) under stirring to give a pCAT-
DNA:polymer weight ratio of 1:6.5.
[0143] 81.1 .mu.g (100 .mu.l) of pCAT-DNA in 2 ml of ultra pure
water was rapidly mixed with 810 .mu.g of chitosan or PEG-chitosan
(0.81 ml of a 0.1% solution) under stirring to give a
pCAT-DNA:polymer weight ratio of 1:10.
[0144] The size of chitosan and PEG-chitosan complexes and their
zeta potentials in water and 1 nM HEPES buffer at pH 7.4 were
determined using a Malvern S4700 PCS and a Malvern Zeta Sizer (Mark
IV), respectively. It can be seen from Table 1 that the surface
properties of the chitosan-DNA complex are different from the
properties of the DNA complex made with the conjugate that is the
subject of the present invention. It is believed that the improved
solubility of this complex and the difference in particle charge is
beneficial for a biological response. Interestingly, the complexes
formed by chitosan and PEG-chitosan with DNA produced small sized
nanoparticles of about 140 nm as measured by PCS.
[0145] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
size of the resulting complexes between plasmid DNA and a
compacting polymer will be affected by the ratio of the interacting
components and the processing conditions.
2TABLE 1 Particle Size and Zeta Potential of Chitosan
(PEG-chitosan)/DNA Complexes DNA/ DNA/CTS PEG-CTS Ratio (w/w) Size
ZP Size ZP (.mu.g/.mu.g) (nm) (mV) (nm) (mV) 1:6.5 138.3 32.2 --
20.9 1:10 172.5 40.4 140.8 31.2
EXAMPLE 6
[0146] In this example, a more detailed study of the interaction
between selected plasmid DNA material (CMV-CAT) and PEG-chitosan
was carried out. The plasmid was at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and
the PEG-chitosan at 500 microgram/ml. The PEG-chitosan was
centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 minutes to remove any particulate
from the solution. To a solution of 50 .mu.g of DNA in 1 ml of
water, was added an aliquot of PEG-chitosan solution equivalent to
charge ratio DNA:PEG-chitosan of 1:0.25. The solution was stirred
for 5 minutes and left to complex for 10 minutes.
[0147] The size of the complex was determined using Photon
Correlation Spectroscopy. Further aliquots of PEG-chitosan were
then added.
[0148] FIG. 2 shows the effect of increasing chitosan and
PEG-chitosan concentrations on the size of the resultant complexes.
At low chitosan or PEG-chitosan concentration, there is not
sufficient polymer to condense the plasmid DNA. However, at a ratio
between 0.75-1.5 of DNA:PEG-chitosan or DNA-chitosan, a complex is
formed which is reduced in size to less than 190 nm at a charge
ratio close to 1:1. With further increase in polymer concentration,
the size of complex increases. The results show the importance of
the amount of PEG-chitosan added for complexing DNA with the
polymer. The results also show that the presence of the PEG
function does not greatly affect the condensing properties of
chitosan. The greater size of the PEG chitosan complexes as
compared to the chitosan complexes is considered to be due to the
PEG group providing a steric barrier.
[0149] Fluorescence Study:
[0150] The interaction of DNA with chitosan and with the
PEG-chitosan conjugate was examined through a process of
fluorescence determination using ethidium bromide (EtBr) as a
marker material. Plasmid DNA interacts (intercalates) strongly with
the ethidium bromide to display strong fluorescence. However, if
the plasmid is compacted then the fluorescence decreases markedly
suggesting displacement.
[0151] The decrease in fluorescence was measured as follows.
[0152] 8.11 .mu.g of plasmid DNA was mixed with 2 .mu.g of EtBr.
The fluorescence of this complex was determined using a
fluorescence spectrometer (Perkin-Elmer 3000, UK) with emission at
591 nm and excitation at 366 nm. 1 .mu.g portions of chitosan or
PEG-chitosan were added incrementally to the complex and the
decreased fluorescence of the complex measured. Chitosan (CL 113)
and PEG-chitosan were used to compare the efficiency of EtBr
displacement.
[0153] The displacement reaction is shown in FIG. 3. As seen in
FIG. 3, the compaction of the selected plasmid DNA material with
chitosan displays a different profile to the compaction with
PEG-chitosan.
[0154] For chitosan (CTS) the displacement reaction finished when
the addition of chitosan calculated from FIG. 3 was 7.47 .mu.g. For
PEG-chitosan (PEG-CTS) this value was 10.66 .mu.g. At this point,
the weight ratio of DNA:chitosan was 1:0.92 and the weight ratio of
DNA:PEG-chitosan 1.31.
[0155] Although more PEG-chitosan was added to finish the
displacement reaction on a weight basis, the molar concentrations
of the two polymers were very close -0.033 .mu.mol for chitosan and
0.039 .mu.mol for PEG-chitosan.
[0156] The example shows that the PEGylation of chitosan does not
substantially affect the ability of chitosan to interact strongly
with plasmid DNA.
[0157] Microcalorimetry:
[0158] The interaction between chitosan and PEG-chitosan and a
negatively charged plasmid was assessed by the heat exchange that
occurred during the reaction using a technique known as isothermal
titration microcalorimetry. A thermal activity monitor available
from Thermometric, Model 2277 in Sweden was used to monitor the
heat change.
[0159] The method involved injecting a solution of chitosan of
PEG-chitosan from a precision syringe into two DNA solutions at
specified time intervals. 2.0 ml of a DNA solution containing 81.1
.mu.g pDNA was used for each experiment and 0.35 ml of the chitosan
and PEG-chitosan solutions were added as 35 separate 10 .mu.l
injections. The time interval between two injections was about 10
minutes.
[0160] Each injection of chitosan or PEG-chitosan led to the
evolution (exothermic process) or absorption (endothermic process)
of heat which was picked up by the thermal activity monitor and
recorded as a series of peaks, the value of which was calculated.
The heat change was measured after each addition.
[0161] 0.35 ml of the chitosan and PEG-chitosan solutions were also
added to 2.0 ml distilled water as 35 separate 10 .mu.l injections
in order to determine the heat of dilution which was then
subtracted from the measured heat exchange resulting from the
interaction between chitosan and PEG-chitosan and the DNA
solution.
[0162] Initially the interaction between the DNA and both the
chitosan and PEG-chitosan was an exothermic process which became
less exothermic as more of the chitosan and PEG-chitosan solutions
were added, eventually becoming endothermic.
[0163] The interaction was followed by measuring the quantity of
chitosan or PEG-chitosan needed to provide an endothermic response.
The ratio of DNA to chitosan or PEG-chitosan at this point was then
calculated (Table 2).
3TABLE 2 The interaction between chitosan or PEG-chitosan and
Plasmid DNA DNA/CTS or CTS or PEG-CTS PEG-CTS ratio (w/w) 0.05% CTS
1:0.80 0.12% CTS 1:0.74 0.15% CTS 1:0.74 0.15% PEG-CTS 1:1.11 0.20%
PEG-CTS 1:0.99 0.30% PEG-CTS 1:1.11
[0164] The stoichiometry of the interaction can be calculated:
[0165] The mean MW of plasmid DNA per phosphate group was
calculated as 308.8 Daltons. The mean MW of chitosan (87% of
deacetylation) per an amino group was calculated as 227.9
Daltons.
[0166] The mean MW of PEG-chitosan (15% of PEG 2100 w/w., 87%
deacetylation) per an amino group was calculated as being 273.9
Daltons.
[0167] When the ratio of opposite charge units (or mole ratio) is
1:1, the ratio of DNA to chitosan by weight is 1:0.74 and DNA to
PEG-chitosan by weight is 1:0.89. These theoretical values are very
close to the experimental results obtained from the
macrocalorimetry study. These results indicate that the
PEG-chitosan can interact with DNA and form a complex.
[0168] The invention provides for the use of a PEG-chitosan
material in drug delivery. The PEG moiety may confer advantageous
properties, particularly in relation to the physiochemical
properties of the chitosan material and the interaction of chitosan
with surfaces, particles and DNA where it will be possible to
provide a combination of positive charge (from those NH.sub.2
groups of the chitosan that have not been PEGylated) and the
PEG-modified amino groups. PEG-chitosan may also improve the
paracellular transport of drugs as already described for chitosan
itself. Moreover, the PEG-chitosan conjugate may be used to form
controlled release materials in the form of microspheres,
microparticles and matrices for administration to the
gastrointestinal tract, to the vaginal cavity, to the nose and to
the buccal cavity.
[0169] The conjugate could also be used for the administration of
drugs to the eye wherein the chitosan would bind preferably to the
mucus. Such an agent may also be used for the treatment of dry eye
syndrome, where the PEG moiety provides a steric stabilization and
lubricating effect. These products could be delivered to the eye
using eye-drop systems known in the art.
[0170] PEG-chitosan complexes with carbohydrates such as alginates,
xanthans, dextran sulphate and gellan could be beneficial as gels
for drug delivery applications. PEG-chitosan can also be interacted
with heparin and other negatively charged macromolecular drugs to
form complexes. Nasal and vaginal products as liquids or powders
based on PEG-chitosan can be delivered by conventional devices such
as spray pumps, powder insufflators, or syringes.
[0171] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention
as defined by the appended claims.
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