U.S. patent application number 10/519173 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-11 for crosslinked compounds and methods of making and using thereof.
Invention is credited to Kirker, Kelly R., Liu, Yanchun, Luo, Yi, Prestwich, Glenn D., Shu, Xiao Zheng.
Application Number | 20050176620 10/519173 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32176391 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050176620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prestwich, Glenn D. ; et
al. |
August 11, 2005 |
Crosslinked compounds and methods of making and using thereof
Abstract
Described herein are crosslinked compounds useful in numerous
treatments. Described herein are methods of making crosslinked
compounds via (1) the oxidative coupling of two or more thiol
compounds or (2) by the reaction between at least one tbiol
compound with at least one thiol-reactive compound.
Inventors: |
Prestwich, Glenn D.; (Salt
Lake City, UT) ; Shu, Xiao Zheng; (Salt Lake City,
UT) ; Luo, Yi; (Harriman, NY) ; Kirker, Kelly
R.; (Salt Lake City, UT) ; Liu, Yanchun; (Salt
Lake City, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NEEDLE & ROSENBERG, P.C.
SUITE 1000
999 PEACHTREE STREET
ATLANTA
GA
30309-3915
US
|
Family ID: |
32176391 |
Appl. No.: |
10/519173 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
May 15, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/15519 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60390504 |
Jun 21, 2002 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
514/7.6 ;
514/18.3; 514/19.1; 514/19.3; 514/2.4; 514/44R; 514/54; 514/56;
530/409; 536/21; 536/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 25/00 20180101;
C07K 14/78 20130101; C07K 1/1072 20130101; A61K 47/61 20170801 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/002 ;
514/044; 514/054; 514/056; 530/409; 536/021; 536/053 |
International
Class: |
A61K 038/17; A61K
031/737; A61K 048/00 |
Goverment Interests
[0002] The research leading to this invention was funded in part by
the National Institutes of Health, Grant No. NIH 5R01 DC04663. The
U.S. Government may have certain rights in this invention.
Claims
1. A compound having the formula I 15wherein Y is a residue of a
macromolecule; Q is a SH group or a thiol-reactive electrophilic
functional group; and L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group,
a polyamide group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, a polyester,
or a polythioether group, wherein when Q is a thiol group, Y is not
a residue of hyaluronan.
2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule comprises an
oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or a metabolically stabilized
analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a lipid, a glycoprotein, a
glycolipid, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable compound.
3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
polysaccharide, a protein, or a synthetic polymer.
4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
polysaccharaide, wherein the polysaccharide comprises a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
5. The compound of claim 4, wherein the polysaccharide comprises
chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate,
heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, or
carboxymethylcellulose.
6. The compound of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
synthetic polymer, and the synthetic polymer comprises glucuronic
acid, polyacrylic acid, polyaspratic acid, polytartaric acid,
polyglutamic acid, or polyfumaric acid.
7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
protein, and the protein comprises a naturally-occurring protein or
a recombinant protein.
8. The compound of claim 1, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
protein, and the protein comprises an extracellular matrix protein,
a chemically-modified extracellular matrix protein, or a partially
hydrolyzed derivative of an extracellular matrix protein.
9. The compound of claim 8, wherein the protein comprises collagen,
elastin, decorin, laminin, or fibronectin.
10. The compound of claim 1, wherein Q is a thiol-reactive
electrophilic functional group, wherein the thiol-reactive
electrophilic functional group comprises an electron-deficient
vinyl group.
11. The compound of claim 10, wherein the electron-deficient vinyl
group comprises a nitro group, a cyano group, an ester group, an
aldehyde group, a keto group, a sulfone group, or an amide
group.
12. The compound of claim 10, wherein the thiol-reactive
electrophilic functional group comprises an acrylate group.
13. The compound of claim 1, wherein L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
14. The compound of claim 1, wherein Y is a residue of a protein or
polysaccharide, Q is a thiol, and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
15. A method for coupling two or more thiolated compounds,
comprising reacting a first thiolated compound having the formula
III 16wherein Y is a residue of a macromolecule, and L is a
polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide group, a
polyimino group, an aryl group, a polyester, or a polythioether
group, with a second thiolated compound having at least one SH
group in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the first thiolated
compound and second thiolated compound are the same or different
compounds.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the macromolecule comprises an
oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or a metabolically stabilized
analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a lipid, a glycoprotein, a
glycolipid, or a pharnaceutically-acceptable compound.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
polysaccharide, a protein, or a synthetic polymer.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the macromolecule is a
polysaccharide, and the polysaccharide comprises a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the polysaccharide comprises
chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate,
heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, or
carboxymethylcellulose.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein Y is a residue of a
polysaccharide or a protein and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the polysaccharide is
hyaluronan.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein the second thiolated compound
is a macromolecule comprising an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or
a metabolically stabilized analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a
lipid, a glycoprotein, a glycolipid, or a
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound.
23. The method of claim 15, wherein the second thiolated compound
comprises a polysaccharide having at least one SH group.
24. The method of claim 15, wherein the second thiolated compound
comprises a sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
25. The method of claim 15, wherein the second thiolated compound
comprises chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan
sulfate, heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin,
carboxymethylcellulose, or hyaluronic acid having at least one SH
group.
26. The method of claim 15 wherein the second thiolated compound
comprises a thiolated protein.
27. The method of claim 15, wherein the second thiolated compound
has the formula II 17wherein Z is a residue of a macromolecule, and
L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide group, a
polyimino group, an aryl group, a polyester, or a polythioether
group.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the macromolecule comprises an
oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or a metabolically stabilized
analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a lipid, a glycoprotein, a
glycolipid, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable compound.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
polysaccharide, a protein, or a synthetic polymer.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein Z is a residue of hyaluronan
and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein Z is a residue of gelatin and L
is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2
32. The method of claim 15, wherein the first thiolated compound
and the second thiolated compound are different.
33. The method of claim 15, wherein the oxidant comprises a gas
comprising oxygen.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the oxidant further comprises
hydrogen peroxide.
35. A method for making a compound, comprising reacting (a) a first
thiolated compound comprising a first protein having at least one
SH group; and (b) a second thiolated compound comprising a
polysaccharide or synthetic polymer having at least one SH group,
in the presence of an oxidant.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first thiolated compound
has the formula III 18and the second thiolated compound has the
formula II 19wherein Y is a protein residue; Z is a polysaccharide
residue or a residue of a synthetic polymer; and each L is,
independently, a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein L in formula II and II is,
independently, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein Z is a residue of
hyaluronan.
39. A compound made by the method of claim 15.
40. A compound having at least one fragment comprising the formula
VI 20wherein Y is a residue of a macromolecule; and G is a residue
of a thiolated compound.
41. The compound of claim 40, wherein the fragment comprises the
formula VIII 21wherein Y is a residue of a macromolecule, wherein Y
is not a residue of hyaluronan; L is a polyalkylene group, a
polyether group, a polyamide group, a polyimino group, an aryl
group, a polyester, or a polythioether group; and G is a residue of
a thiolated compound.
42. The compound of claim 41, wherein the macromolecule comprises
an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or a metabolically stabilized
analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a lipid, a glycoprotein, a
glycolipid, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable compound.
43. The compound of claim 41, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
polysaccharide, a protein, or a synthetic polymer.
44. The compound of claim 41, wherein Y is a residue of a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
45. The compound of claim 41, wherein Y is a residue of chondroitin
sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate, heparan
sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, or carboxymethylcellulose.
46. The compound of claim 41, wherein L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
47. The compound of claim 41, wherein G comprises a polysaccharide
residue.
48. The compound of claim 41, wherein G comprises a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan residue.
49. The compound of claim 41, wherein G comprises a residue of
chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate,
heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, carboxymethylcellulose, or
hyaluronan.
50. A method for making a compound, comprising reacting a first
thiolated macromolecule having at least one SH group with at least
one compound having at least one thiol-reactive electrophilic
functional group.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the compound has at least two
thiol-reactive electrophilic groups.
52. The method of claim 50, wherein the first macromolecule
comprises an oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or a metabolically
stabilized analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a lipid, a
glycoprotein, a glycolipid, a polysaccharide, a protein, a
synthetic polymer, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable compound.
53. The method of claim 50, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
polysaccharide, wherein the polysaccharide comprises a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the polysaccharide comprises
chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate,
heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, or
carboxymethylcellulose.
55. The method of claim 53, wherein the polysaccharide comprises
hyaluronan.
56. The method of claim 50, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
protein, wherein the protein comprises an extracellular matrix
protein, a partially hydrolyzed extracellular matrix protein, or a
chemically-modified extracellular matrix protein.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the protein comprises collagen,
elastin, decorin, laminin, or fibronectin.
58. The method of claim 50, wherein the first macromolecule has the
formula III 22wherein Y is a residue of a macromolecule, and L is a
polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide group, a
polyimino group, a polyester, an aryl group, or a polythioether
group.
59. The method of claim 58, wherein Y is a residue of a
polysaccharide or a protein.
60. The method of claim 58, wherein Y is a residue of hyaluronan
and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
61. The method of claim 50, further comprising a second thiolated
macromolecule, wherein the first and second macromolecule are the
same or different.
62. The method of claim 50, wherein the thiol-reactive
electrophilic functional group comprises an electron-deficient
vinyl group.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the electron-deficient vinyl
group comprises a nitro group, a cyano group, an ester group, an
aldehyde group, a keto group, a sulfone group, or an amide
group.
64. The method of claim 50, wherein the compound has two
electron-deficient vinyl groups, wherein the two electron-deficient
vinyl groups are the same.
65. The method of claim 50, wherein the compound comprises a
diacrylate, a dimethacrylate, a diacrylamide, a dimethacrylamide,
or a combination thereof.
66. The method of claim 50, wherein the compound has the formula V
23wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, independently, hydrogen or lower
alkyl; U and V are, independently, O or NR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5
is, independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl; and M is a polyalkylene
group, a polyether group, a polyamide group, a polyimino group, a
polyester, an aryl group, or a polythioether group.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are
hydrogen, U and V are oxygen, and M is a polyether group.
68. The method of claim 66, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are
hydrogen, U and V are NH, and M is a polyether group.
69. The method of claim 66, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are methyl,
U and V are oxygen, and M is a polyether group.
70. The method of claim 66, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are methyl,
U and V are NH, and M is a polyether group.
71. The method of claim 50, wherein the first thiolated
macromolecule has the formula III 24wherein Y is a residue of
polysaccharide, and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, and the compound has the formula V
25wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, independently, hydrogen or lower
alkyl; U and V are, independently, O or NR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5
is, independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl; and M is a polyether
group.
72. The method of claim 71, wherein Y is a residue of hyaluronan,
and the reaction further comprises reacting gelatin having at least
one thiol group with the compound having the formula V.
73. The method of claim 71, wherein the polysaccharide comprises a
first polysaccharide and second polysaccharide having the formula
I, wherein in the first polysaccharide, Y is a residue of a first
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan, and in the second polysaccharide, Y is
a residue of a second sulfated-glycosaminoglycan, wherein the first
and second sulfated-glycosaminoglycans are the same or
different.
74. The method of claim 71, wherein the polysaccharide comprises a
first polysaccharide and second polysaccharide having the formula
I, wherein in the first polysaccharide, Y is a residue of
hyaluronan, and in the second polysaccharide, Y is a residue of a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
75. The method of claim 71, further comprising reacting a protein,
an extracellular matrix, or growth factor having at least one thiol
group with the compound having the formula V.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein the polysaccharide comprises a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
77. The method of claim 50, wherein the first thiolated
macromolecule has the formula III 26wherein Y is a residue of
polysaccharide, and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, and the compound is mitomycin C modified
with an acrylate group.
78. A method for making a compound, comprising reacting a thiolated
macromolecule having at least one thiol-reactive electrophilic
functional group with at least one compound having at least two
thiol groups.
79. The method of claim 78, wherein the first thiolated
macromolecule has the formula I 27wherein Y is a residue of the
macromolecule; Q is the thiol-reactive electrophilic functional
group; and L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a
polyamide group, a polyimino group, a polyester, an aryl group, or
a polythioether group.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein Y is a residue of a
polysaccharide.
81. The method of claim 79, wherein Y is hyaluronan and L is
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
82. The compound produced by the process of claim 50.
83. A compound having at least one fragment comprising the formula
VII 28wherein R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are, independently, hydrogen or
lower alkyl; X is an electron-withdrawing group; and Y is a residue
of a macromolecule.
84. The compound of claim 83, wherein Y is a polysaccharide
residue.
85. The compound of claim 83, wherein the fragment comprises the
formula IV 29wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, independently,
hydrogen or lower alkyl; U and V are, independently, O or NR.sup.5,
wherein R.sup.5 is, independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl; Y is a
residue of a protein; Z is a polysaccharide residue or a residue of
synthetic polymer; and M is a polyalkylene group, a polyether
group, a polyamide group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an
aryl group, or a polythioether group.
86. The compound of claim 85, wherein Y has the formula IX
30wherein Y' is a residue of the first protein; L is a polyalkylene
group, a polyether group, a polyamide group, a polyester group, a
polyimino group, an aryl group, or a polythioether group, wherein
the L group is covalently bonded to the sulfur atom.
87. The compound of claim 86, wherein the protein comprises an
extracellular matrix protein, a partially hydrolyzed extracellular
matrix protein, or a chemically-modified extracellular matrix
protein.
88. The compound of claim 86, wherein the protein comprises
collagen, elastin, decorin, laminin, or fibronectin.
89. The compound of claim 85, wherein Z has the formula X 31wherein
Z' is a polysaccharide residue or a residue of a synthetic polymer;
and L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group, wherein the L group is covalently bonded to
the sulfur atom.
90. The compound of claim 89, wherein Z is a residue of hyaluronan
or chondroitin sulfate and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2- .
91. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound and the compound of claim
40.
92. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a living cell and the
compound of claim 40.
93. A method for improving wound healing in a subject in need of
such improvement, comprising contacting the wound of the subject
with the compound of claim 40.
94. A method for delivering at least one
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound to a patient in need of such
delivery, comprising contacting at least one tissue capable of
receiving the pharmaceutically-acceptable compound with the
composition of claim 91.
95. A method for delivering living cells to a patient in need of
such delivery, comprising contacting at least one tissue capable of
receiving the living cells with the composition of claim 92.
96. The use of the compound of claim 40 as a growth factor, an
anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-cancer agent, an analgesic, an
anti-infection agent, or an anti-cell attachment agent.
97. A compound having the formula XI 32wherein J comprises a
protein residue; and E comprises a fluorescent tag, a radiolabel, a
targeting moiety, a lipid, a peptide, a radionuclide chelator with
a radionuclide, a spin-label, a PEG camouflage, a metal surface, a
glass surface, a plastic surface, or a combination thereof.
98. The compound of claim 97, wherein the macromolecule comprises a
protein, and the protein comprises a naturally-occurring protein or
a recombinant protein.
99. The compound of claim 97, wherein the protein comprises an
extracellular matrix protein, a partially hydrolyzed extracellular
matrix protein, or a chemically-modified extracellular matrix
protein.
100. The compound of claim 97, wherein the protein comprises
collagen, elastin, decorin, laminin, or fibronectin.
101. A compound produced by the process comprising reacting (1) a
protein having at least one hydrazide-reactive group and (2) a
compound having at least one hydrazide group.
102. A compound produced by the process comprising reacting (1) a
protein having at least one hydrazide group and (2) a compound
having at least one hydrazide-reactive group.
103. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound and the compound of claim
97.
104. A method for improving wound healing in a subject in need of
such improvement, comprising contacting the wound of the subject
with the compound of claim 97.
105. A method for delivering at least one
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound to a patient in need of such
delivery, comprising contacting at least one tissue capable of
receiving the pharmaceutically-acceptable compound with the
composition of claim 104.
106. The use of the compound of claim 97 as a growth factor, an
anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-cancer agent, an analgesic, an
anti-infection agent, or an anti-cell attachment agent.
107. A kit comprising (1) a compound comprising at least one
hydrazide group; (2) a condensing agent; (3) a buffer reagent; and
(4) a purification column.
108. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound and the compound of claim
82.
109. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound and the compound of claim
83.
110. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a living cell and the
compound of claim 82.
111. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a living cell and the
compound of claim 83.
112. A method for improving wound healing in a subject in need of
such improvement, comprising contacting the wound of the subject
with the compound of claim 82.
113. A method for improving wound healing in a subject in need of
such improvement, comprising contacting the wound of the subject
with the compound of claim 83.
114. The use of the compound of claim 82 as a growth factor, an
anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-cancer agent, an analgesic, an
anti-infection agent, or an anti-cell attachment agent.
115. The use of the compound of claim 83 as a growth factor, an
anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-cancer agent, an analgesic, an
anti-infection agent, or an anti-cell attachment agent.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 60/390,504, filed Jun. 21, 2002. This
application is hereby incorporated by this reference in its
entirety for all of its teachings.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The use of macromolecules in pharmaceutical applications has
received considerable attention. At times, it is desirable to
couple two or more macromolecules to produce new macromolecule
scaffolds with multiple activities. Existing technologies used to
couple two or macromolecules, however, present numerous
difficulties. For example, the alkaline conditions or high
temperatures necessary to create hydrogels with high mechanical
strength are cumbersome and harsh. Although the use of crosslinkers
to produce macromolecular scaffolds has met with some success, the
crosslinking agents are often relatively small, cytotoxic
molecules, and the resulting scaffold has to be extracted or washed
extensively to remove traces of unreacted reagents and byproducts
(Hennink, W. E.; van Nostrum, C. F. Adv. Drug Del. Rev. 2002, 54,
13-36), thus precluding use in many medical applications. A
physiologically compatible macromolecular scaffold capable of being
produced in a straightforward manner is needed before they will be
useful as therapeutic aids. Described herein are compounds and
methods that are capable of coupling two or more molecules, such as
macromolecules, under mild conditions.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS
[0004] Described herein are crosslinked compounds. Also described
herein are methods of making and using crosslinked compounds.
[0005] The advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in
the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the aspects described
below. The advantages described below will be realized and attained
by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out
in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the
foregoing general description and the following detailed
description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects
described below.
[0007] FIG. 1 shows the reaction scheme for producing HA-thiolated
derivatives.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows (a) absorption at 242 nm as a function of pH
for HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH solution and (b) logarithmic plot of
log[(A.sub.max-A.sub.i)/A.sub.i] vs. pH. The pK.sub.a values
correspond to the intercept with the abscissa.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows the swelling of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH films in
PBS at pH 7.4. The open circles and triangles are the films coupled
via oxidation with 0.3% H.sub.2O.sub.2 after air oxidation, and the
closed circles and triangles are films coupled by air oxidation
only.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows the disulfide content in HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH
films. Key: a=air oxidation only; b=air oxidation followed by
oxidation with H.sub.2O.sub.2.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows the release of blue dextran from HA-DTPH in PBS
containing different concentrations of DTT at pH 7.4.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows fibroblast proliferation in HA-DTPH hydrogel
after in vitro culture of 0, 1, 2, and 3 days.
[0013] FIG. 7 shows the synthesis of thiolated HA and gelatin.
[0014] FIG. 8 shows the effect of salt concentration on
polyelectrolyte complex formation in mixed HA-gelatin solutions.
HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH, both 3.0% (w/v), were dissolved in 0.02 M
PBS, the pH was adjusted to 7.4 (3.0% w/v), and the solutions were
then mixed at different ratios. The absorption was determined at 15
min (open circles, no added salt) and 2 h (open diamonds, 1.0%
NaCl) after the preparation of solution in 0.5-cm spectrophotometer
cell.
[0015] FIG. 9 shows the determination of disulfide density in
HA-DTPH gelatin-DTPH hydrogel films. The hydrogel films were
prepared with 3.0% (w/v) polymer in 0.02 M PBS (pH 7.4) with 1.0%
(w/v) NaCl and then exhaustively hydrolyzed in acid (n=3). NTSB and
DTNB reagents were used as described to obtain total sulfur and
thiol contents. The theoretical disulfide density (open circles)
was calculated from thiol density (HA-DTPH 0.77 mmol/g,
gelatin-DTPH 0.51 mmol/g).
[0016] FIG. 10 shows the equilibrium swelling ratio of HA-gelatin
films. The ratio was measured in PBS at 37.degree. C., 300 rpm
(n=3). The hydrogel films were prepared with 3.0% (w/v) polymer in
0.02 M PBS (pH 7.4) with 1.0% (w/v) NaCl.
[0017] FIG. 11 shows the enzymatic degradation of mixed HA-gelatin
films. The weight loss of HA-gelatin hydrogel films in 300 U/ml
enzyme solutions (HAse, open triangles; collagenase, open squares;
open circles, HAse plus collagenase) at 37.degree. C., 150 rpm
(n=3). Panel A: HA-gelatin, 20:80. Panel B: HA-gelatin, 40:60. The
hydrogel films were prepared with 3.0% (w/v) polymer in 0.02 M PBS
(pH 7.4) with 1.0% (w/v) NaCl.
[0018] FIG. 12 shows the cell attachment and spreading of
fibroblasts of HA-gelatin films. Fluorescent microscopic images of
adherent and spread Balb/c 3T3 fibroblast on the surface of
HA-gelatin hydrogel films after 24 h of in vitro culture. The cells
were initially seeded at 25,000 cells/cm2 and were stained with
F-DA. Panel a: 100% HA film; Panel b: HA-gelatin, 80:20; Panel c:
HA-gelatin, 40:60 film; and Panel d: 100% gelatin-DTPH film.
Original magnification: Panels a, b, c, and d at .times.100.
[0019] FIG. 13 shows the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblast on
the surface of HA-gelatin hydrogel film. The cells were initially
seeded at 5,000 cells/cm.sup.2 and the cell number was determined
by MTT assay after one day and three days culture in vitro (n=5).
Tissue culture polystyrene (PS) was used as control, and the
relative cell density on tissue culture polystyrene after one day
of in vitro culture was defined as 1.0. The inset shows the
proliferation ratio (PR) as a function of percent gelatin (% G) in
the hydrogel.
[0020] FIG. 14 shows structures of .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated
esters and amides of poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinked with
thiolated HA and thiolated gelatin.
[0021] FIG. 15 shows the conjugate addition between PEGDA, PEGDM,
PEGDAA, PEGDMA and cysteine.
[0022] FIG. 16 shows the conjugate addition of HA-DTPH, HA-DTBH and
PEG-acrylate.
[0023] FIG. 17 shows the digestion of HA-DTPH-PEGDA with HAse.
[0024] FIG. 18 shows the viability of T31 fibroblasts after 28 days
in vitro culture in HA-DTPH-PEGDA hydrogel, confocal microscope,
magnification=.times.200.
[0025] FIG. 19 shows the proliferation of T31 fibroblasts in
HA-DTPH-PEGDA gel.
[0026] FIG. 20 shows the gross view of explants of HA-DTPH-PEGDA
seeded with T3 1 fibroblasts after subcutaneous implantation in
vivo in nude mice.
[0027] FIG. 21 shows the histological examination of the explants
after incubation in nude mice for 2 weeks (Panel A), 4 weeks (Panel
B), and 8 weeks (Panel C), immunohistochemistry (fibronectin).
Original magnification.times.200.
[0028] FIG. 22 shows the synthesis of HA-DTPH-MMC.
[0029] FIG. 23 shows the synthesis of HA-DTPH-PEGDA-MMC.
[0030] FIGS. 24a and 24b show the results of in vitro MMC release
results.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Before the present compounds, compositions, and/or methods
are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the
aspects described below are not limited to specific compounds,
synthetic methods, or uses as such may, of course, vary. It is also
to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the
purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended
to be limiting.
[0032] In this specification and in the claims that follow,
reference will be made to a number of terms that shall be defined
to have the following meanings:
[0033] It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to "a pharmaceutical carrier" includes
mixtures of two or more such carriers, and the like.
[0034] "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently
described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the
description includes instances where the event or circumstance
occurs and instances where it does not. For example, the phrase
"optionally substituted lower alkyl" means that the lower alkyl
group can or can not be substituted and that the description
includes both unsubstituted lower alkyl and lower alkyl where there
is substitution.
[0035] Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one
particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When
such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one
particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly,
when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the
antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value
forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the
endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to
the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
[0036] References in the specification and concluding claims to
parts by weight, of a particular element or component in a
composition or article, denotes the weight relationship between the
element or component and any other elements or components in the
composition or article for which a part by weight is expressed.
Thus, in a compound containing 2 parts by weight of component X and
5 parts by weight component Y, X and Y are present at a weight
ratio of 2:5, and are present in such ratio regardless of whether
additional components are contained in the compound.
[0037] A weight percent of a component, unless specifically stated
to the contrary, is based on the total weight of the formulation or
composition in which the component is included.
[0038] A residue of a chemical species, as used in the
specification and concluding claims, refers to the moiety that is
the resulting product of the chemical species in a particular
reaction scheme or subsequent formulation or chemical product,
regardless of whether the moiety is actually obtained from the
chemical species. For example, a polysaccharide that contains at
least one --COOH group can be represented by the formula Y--COOH,
where Y is the remainder (i.e., residue) of the polysaccharide
molecule.
[0039] Variables such as R.sup.3-R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, E, L,
J, G, M, Q, U, V, X, Y, and Z used throughout the application are
the same variables as previously defined unless stated to the
contrary.
[0040] The term "alkyl group" as used herein is a branched or
unbranched saturated hydrocarbon group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms,
such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl,
t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, decyl, tetradecyl,
hexadecyl, eicosyl, tetracosyl and the like. A "lower alkyl" group
is an alkyl group containing from one to six carbon atoms.
[0041] The term "polyalkylene group" as used herein is a group
having two or more CH.sub.2 groups linked to one another. The
polyalkylene group can be represented by the formula
--(CH.sub.2).sub.n--, where n is an integer of from 2 to 25.
[0042] The term "polyether group" as used herein is a group having
the formula --[(CHR).sub.nO].sub.m--, where R is hydrogen or a
lower alkyl group, n is an integer of from 1 to 20, and m is an
integer of from 1 to 100. Examples of polyether groups include,
polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and polybutylene
oxide.
[0043] The term "polythioether group" as used herein is a group
having the formula --[(CHR).sub.nS].sub.m--, where R is hydrogen or
a lower alkyl group, n is an integer of from 1 to 20, and m is an
integer of from 1 to 100.
[0044] The term "polyimino group" as used herein is a group having
the formula --[(CHR).sub.nNR].sub.m--, where each R is,
independently, hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, n is an integer of
from 1 to 20, and m is an integer of from 1 to 100.
[0045] The term "polyester group" as used herein is a group that is
produced by the reaction between a compound having at least two
carboxylic acid groups with a compound having at least two hydroxyl
groups.
[0046] The term "polyamide group" as used herein is a group that is
produced by the reaction between a compound having at least two
carboxylic acid groups with a compound having at least two
unsubstituted or monosubstituted amino groups.
[0047] The term "aryl group" as used herein is any carbon-based
aromatic group including, but not limited to, benzene, naphthalene,
etc. The term "aromatic" also includes "heteroaryl group," which is
defined as an aromatic group that has at least one heteroatom
incorporated within the ring of the aromatic group. Examples of
heteroatoms include, but are not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen,
sulfur, and phosphorus. The aryl group can be substituted or
unsubstituted. The aryl group can be substituted with one or more
groups including, but not limited to, alkyl, alkynyl, alkenyl,
aryl, halide, nitro, amino, ester, ketone, aldehyde, hydroxy,
carboxylic acid, or alkoxy.
[0048] I. Crosslinking via Oxidative Coupling
[0049] In one aspect described herein is a method for preparing a
compound, wherein the method includes reacting a first thiolated
compound having the formula III 1
[0050] wherein
[0051] Y is a residue of a macromolecule, and
[0052] L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, a polyester, or a
polythioether group, with a second thiolated compound having at
least one SH group in the presence of an oxidant,
[0053] wherein the first thiolated compound and second thiolated
compound are the same or different compounds.
[0054] FIG. 1 depicts one aspect of the method described above for
producing a first thiolated compound having the formula III, where
Y is hyaluronan. The first step involves reacting a macromolecule
having the formula Y--COOH with the dibydrazide/disulfide compound
having the formula A. The reaction is performed in the presence of
a condensing agent. A condensing agent is any compound that
facilitates the reaction between the dihydrazide group of compound
A and the COOH group on the macromolecule. In one aspect, the
condensing agent is a carbodiimide, including, but not limited to,
1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-carbod- iimide (EDCI). As
depicted in FIG. 1, a mixture of products (B and C) are produced
after the first step. The disulfide bond in compounds B and C is
cleaved with a reducing agent. In one aspect, the reducing agent is
dithiothreitol. Cleavage of the disulfide bonds in compounds B and
C produces the first tholated compound having the formula III.
[0055] The macromolecule is any compound having at least one group
that can react with a hydrazide compound. In one aspect, the
macromolecule has at least one --COOH group or the salt or ester
thereof. In another aspect, the macromolecule is an
oligonucleotide, a nucleic acid or a metabolically stabilized
analogue thereof, a polypeptide, a lipid, a glycoprotein, or a
glycolipid. In another aspect, the macromolecule is a
polysaccharide, a protein, or a synthetic polymer.
[0056] In one aspect, the macromolecule can be a
pharmaceutically-acceptab- le compound. In one aspect, the
pharmaceutically-acceptable compounds can include substances
capable of preventing an infection systemnically in the biological
system or locally at the defect site, as for example,
anti-inflammatory agents such as, but not limited to, pilocarpine,
hydrocortisone, prednisolone, cortisone, diclofenac sodium,
indomethacin, 6.varies.-methyl-prednisolone, corticosterone,
dexamethasone, prednisone, and the like; antibacterial agents
including, but not limited to, penicillin, cephalosporins,
bacitracin, tetracycline, doxycycline, gentamycin, chloroquine,
vidarabine, and the like; analgesic agents including, but not
limited to, salicylic acid, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen,
piroxicam, flurbiprofen, morphine, and the like; local anesthetics
including, but not limited to, cocaine, lidocaine, benzocaine, and
the like; immunogens (vaccines) for stimulating antibodies against
hepatitis, influenza, measles, rubella, tetanus, polio, rabies, and
the like; peptides including, but not limited to, leuprolide
acetate (an LH-RH agonist), nafarelin. and the like. All compounds
are available from Sigma Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.).
[0057] In another aspect, the phannaceutically-acceptable compound
can be a substance or metabolic precursor which is capable of
promoting growth and survival of cells and tissues or augmenting
the functioning of cells is useful, as for example, a nerve growth
promoting substance such as a ganglioside, a nerve growth factor,
and the like; a hard or soft tissue growth promoting agent such as
fibronectin (FN), human growth honnone (HGH), a colony stimulating
factor, bone morphogenic protein, platelet-derived growth factor
(PDGF), insulin-derived growth factor (IGF-I, IGF-II), transforming
growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta
(TGF-beta), epiderrnal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth
factor (FGF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF) and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), dried bone
material, and the like; and antineoplastic agents such as
methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, vinblastine, cisplatin,
tumor-specific antibodies conjugated to toxins, tumor necrosis
factor, and the like.
[0058] In another aspect, the pharmaceutically-acceptable compound
can include hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, and
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (birth control,
fertility-enhancement), insulin, and the like; antihistamines such
as diphenhydramine, and the like; cardiovascular agents such as
papaverine, streptokinase and the like; anti-ulcer agents such as
isopropamide iodide, and the like; bronchodilators such as
metaproternal sulfate, aminophylline, and the like; vasodilators
such as theophylline, niacin, minoxidil, and the like; central
nervous system agents such as tranquilizer, B-adrenergic blocking
agent, dopamine, and the like; antipsychotic agents such as
risperidone, narcotic antagonists such as naltrexone, naloxone,
buprenorphine; and other like substances. All compounds are
available from Sigma Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.).
[0059] Polysaccharides useful in the methods described herein have
at least one group, such as a carboxylic acid group or the salt or
ester thereof, that can react with a dihydrazide. In one aspect,
the polysaccharide is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG). A GAG is one
molecule with many alternating subunits. For example, HA is
(GlcNAc-GlcUA-)x. Other GAGs are sulfated at different sugars.
Generically, GAGs are represented by the formula A-B-A-B-A-B, where
A is a uronic acid and B is an aminosugar that is either O-- or
N-sulfated, where the A and B units can be heterogeneous with
respect to epimeric content or sulfation. Any natural or synthetic
polymer containing uronic acid can be used. In one aspect, Y in
formula III is a sulfated-GAG.
[0060] There are many different types of GAGs, having commonly
understood structures, which, for example, are within the disclosed
compositions, such as chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan,
heparin, dermatan sulfate, and heparan sulfate. Any GAG known in
the art can be used in any of the methods described herein.
Glycosaminoglycans can be purchased from Sigma, and many other
biochemical suppliers. Alginic acid, pectin, and
carboxymethylcellulose are among other carboxylic acid containing
polysaccharides useful in the methods described herein.
[0061] In another aspect, the polysaccharide Y in formula III is
hyaluronan (HA). HA is a non-sulfated GAG. Hyaluronan is a well
known, naturally occurring, water soluble polysaccharide composed
of two alternatively linked sugars, D-glucuronic acid and
N-acetylglucosamine. The polymer is hydrophilic and highly viscous
in aqueous solution at relatively low solute concentrations. It
often occurs naturally as the sodium salt, sodium hyaluronate.
Methods of preparing commercially available hyaluronan and salts
thereof are well known. Hyaluronan can be purchased from Seikagaku
Company, Clear Solutions Biotech, Inc., Pharmacia Inc., Sigma Inc.,
and many other suppliers. For high molecular weight hyaluronan it
is often in the range of 100 to 10,000 disaccharide units. In
another aspect, the lower limit of the molecular weight of the
hyaluronan is from 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 60,000,
70,000, 80,000, 90,000, or 100,000, and the upper limit is 200,000,
300,000, 400,000, 500,000, 600,000, 700,000, 800,000, 900,000, or
1,000,000, where any of the lower limits can be combined with any
of the upper limits. In another aspect, Y in formula III is not
hyaluronan.
[0062] Y in formula m can also be a synthetic polymer. The
synthetic polymer has at least one carboxylic acid group or the
salt or ester thereof, which is capable of reacting with a
hydrazide. In one aspect, the synthetic polymer residue in formula
III comprises the synthetic polymer comprises glucuronic acid,
polyacrylic acid, polyaspratic acid, polytartaric acid,
polyglutamic acid, or polyfumaric acid.
[0063] In another aspect, Y in formula III is a protein. Proteins
useful in the methods described herein include, but are not limited
to, an extracellular matrix protein, a chemically-modified
extracellular matrix protein, or a partially hydrolyzed derivative
of an extracellular matrix protein. The proteins may be naturally
occurring or recombinant polypeptides possessing a cell interactive
domain. The protein can also be mixtures of proteins, where one or
more of the proteins are modified. Specific examples of proteins
include, but are not limited to, collagen, elastin, decorin,
laminin, or fibronectin.
[0064] The identity and length of L in formula III will vary
depending upon the end use of the compound. In one aspect, L in
formula III is a polyalkylene group. In another aspect, L in
formula III is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 polyalkylene group. In another
aspect, L in formula I is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2. In another aspect, Y is a residue of a
polysaccharide or protein and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
[0065] The second thiolated compound is any compound having at
least one thiol group. The first and second thiolated compounds can
be the same or different compounds. In one aspect, the second
thiolated compound can be any macromolecule described above. In one
aspect, the second thiolated compound is a polysaccharide having at
least one SH group. Any of the polysaccharides described above can
be used as the second thiolated compound. In another aspect, the
second thiolated compound comprises a sulfated-glycosaminoglycan.
In a further aspect, the second thiolated compound includes
chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate,
heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, carboxymethylcellulose, or
hyaluronan having at least one SH gpup.
[0066] In another aspect, the second thiolated compound has the
formula II 2
[0067] wherein
[0068] Z is a residue of a macromolecule, and
[0069] L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, a polyester, or a
polythioether group.
[0070] The macromolecule residue Z can be any of the macromolecules
described above. In one aspect, the second thiolated compound can
be a protein having at least one thiol group. In one aspect, the
protein comprises an extracellular matrix protein or a
chemically-modified extracellular matrix protein. In another
aspect, the protein comprises collagen, elastin, decorin, laminin,
or fibronectin
[0071] In another aspect, L in formula II is a polyalkylene group.
In another aspect, L in formula II is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.20
polyalkylene group. In another aspect, L in formula II is
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2. In one aspect, Z is a
residue of hyaluronan and L in formula II is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2. In a further aspect, Z is a residue of
gelatin and L in formula II is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
[0072] In another aspect, described herein is a method for making a
crosslinked compound involving reacting
[0073] (a) a first thiolated compound comprising a protein having
at least one SH group; and
[0074] (b) a second thiolated compound comprising a polysaccharide
or synthetic polymer having at least one SH group, in the presence
of an oxidant.
[0075] In this aspect, the first thiolated compound has the formula
III 3
[0076] and the second thiolated compound has the formula II 4
[0077] wherein
[0078] Y is a protein residue;
[0079] Z is a polysaccharide residue or a residue of a synthetic
polymer; and
[0080] each L is, independently, a polyalkylene group, a polyether
group, a polyamide group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an
aryl group, or a polythioether group.
[0081] In one aspect, L in formula II and II is, independently,
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2. In another aspect, Z
is a residue of hyaluronan.
[0082] The reaction between the first and second thiolated
compounds is performed in the presence of an oxidant. In one
aspect, the reaction between the first and second thiolated
compounds can be conducted in the presence of any gas that contains
oxygen. In one aspect, the oxidant is air. This aspect also
contemplates the addition of a second oxidant to expedite the
reaction. In another aspect, the reaction can be performed under an
inert atmosphere (i.e., oxygen free), and an oxidant is added to
the reaction. Examples of oxidants useful in this method include,
but are not limited to, molecular iodine, hydrogen peroxide, alkyl
hydroperoxides, peroxy acids, dialkyl sulfoxides, high valent
metals such as Co.sup.+3 and Ce.sup.+4, metal oxides of manganese,
lead, and chromium, and halogen transfer agents. The oxidants
disclosed in Capozzi, G.; Modena, G. In The Chemistry of the Thiol
Group Part II; Patai, S., Ed.; Wiley: New York, 1974; pp 785-839,
which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, are useful in
the methods described herein.
[0083] The reaction between the first and second thiolated
compounds can be conducted in a buffer solution that is slightly
basic. The amount of the first thiolated compound relative the
amount of the second thiolated compound can vary. In one aspect,
the volume ratio of the first thiolated compound to the second
thiolated compound is from 99:1, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50,
40:60, 30:70, 20:80, 10:90, or 1:99. In one aspect, the first and
second thiolated compound react in air and are allowed to dry at
room temperature. In this aspect, the dried material can be exposed
to a second oxidant, such as hydrogen peroxide. The resultant
compound can then be rinsed with water to remove any unreacted
first and/or second thiolated compound and any unused oxidant. One
advantage of preparing coupled compound via the oxidative coupling
methodology described herein is that crosslinking can occur in an
aqueous media under physiologically benign conditions without the
necessity of additional crosslink-ing reagents.
[0084] The compounds produced using the methods described above
have at least one fragment comprising the formula VI 5
[0085] wherein
[0086] Y is a residue of a macromolecule, wherein Y is not a
residue of hyaluronan; and
[0087] G is a residue of a thiolated compound.
[0088] The term "fragment" as used herein refers to the entire
molecule itself or a portion or segment of a larger molecule. For
example, Y in formula VI may be high molecular weight
polysaccharide that is crosslinked by disulfide linkage with
another polysaccharide, synthetic polymer, or thiolated polymer to
produce the coupled compound. Alternatively, the coupled compound
may have multiple disulfide linkages. The compound has at a minimum
one unit depicted in formula VI, which represents at least one
disulfide linkage as the result of at least one first thiolated
compound that reacted with at least one second thiolated compound
via oxidation.
[0089] The macromolecule (Y) and thiolated compound (G) can be any
of the macromolecules described above. In one aspect, Y in formula
VI is a polysaccharide, a protein, or a synthetic polymer. In
another aspect, the fragment comprises the formula VIII 6
[0090] wherein
[0091] Y is a residue of a macromolecule, wherein Y is not a
residue of hyaluronan;
[0092] L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, a polyester, or a
polythioether group; and
[0093] G is a residue of a thiolated compound.
[0094] In one aspect, Y in formula VIII is a residue of any of the
glycosaminoglycans described above including, but not limited to,
chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate,
heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin, or carboxymethylcellulose.
In a further aspect, L in formula VIII is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2. In another aspect, G is a residue of any
of the polysaccharides described above, including a
glycosaminoglycan such as chondroitin sulfate, dermatan, heparan,
heparin, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, alginic acid, pectin,
carboxymethylcellulose, or hyaluronan.
[0095] II. Coupling Compounds via the Reaction Between a Thiol
Compound and a Thiol-Reactive Compound
[0096] In another aspect, described herein is a method for coupling
two or more compounds by reacting a first thiolated macromolecule
having at least one SH group with at least one compound having at
one thiol-reactive electrophilic functional group. In one aspect,
the compound has at least two-thiol reactive functional groups.
[0097] Any of the macromolecules described above can be used in
this aspect. Two or more different macromolecules can be used in
this method. For example, a second thiolated macromolecule can be
used in combination with the first thiolated macromolecule. In this
aspect, the first and second thiolated macromolecule can be the
same or different compounds.
[0098] In one aspect, the macromolecule is a polysaccharide. In
this aspect, the polysaccharide is a sulfated-glycosaminoglycan
including, but not limited to, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan,
heparan, heparin, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, alginic acid,
pectin, or carboxymethylcellulose. In another aspect, the
polysaccharide is hyaluronan. In another aspect, the polysaccharide
has the formula III described above. In this aspect, Y is a residue
of hyaluronan and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2.
[0099] In another aspect, the macromolecule is a compound having
the formula III, wherein Y is a protein. Any of the proteins
described above can be used in this aspect. In one aspect, the
protein is collagen, elastin, decorin, laminin, or fibronectin.
[0100] A compound having at least one thiol-reactive electrophilic
group is also used in this aspect of the method. The term
"thiol-reactive electrophilic group" as used herein is any group
that is susceptible to nucleophilic attack by the lone-pair
electrons on the sulfur atom of the thiol group or by the thiolate
anion. Examples of thiol-reactive electrophilic groups include
groups that have good leaving groups. For example, an alkyl group
having a halide or alkoxy group attached to it or an
.alpha.-halocarbonyl group are examples of thiol-reactive
electrophilic groups. In another aspect, the thiol-reactive
electrophilic group is an electron-deficient vinyl group. The term
"an electron-deficient vinyl group" as used herein is a group
having a carbon-carbon double bond and an electron-withdrawing
group attached to one of the carbon atoms. An electron-deficient
vinyl group is depicted in the formula
C.sub..beta..dbd.C.sub..alpha.X, where X is the
electron-withdrawing group. When the electron-withdrawing group is
attached to C.alpha., the other carbon atom of the vinyl group
(C.beta.) is more susceptible to nucleophilic attack by the thiol
group. This type of addition to an activated carbon-carbon double
bond is referred to as a Michael addition. Examples of
electron-withdrawing groups include, but are not limited to, a
nitro group, a cyano group, an ester group, an aldehyde group, a
keto group, a sulfone group, or an amide group. Examples of
compounds possessing thiol-reactive electrphilic groups include,
but are not limited to, maleimides, vinyl sulfones. acrylonitriles,
.alpha.-methylene esters, quinone methides, acryloyl esters or
amides, or .alpha.-halo esters or amides.
[0101] In one aspect, the thiol-reactive compound has two
electron-deficient vinyl groups, wherein the two electron-deficient
vinyl groups are the same. In another aspect, the thiol-reactive
compound is a diacrylate, a dimethacrylate, a diacrylamide, a
dimethacrylamide, or a combination thereof.
[0102] In another aspect, the thiol-reactive compound has the
formula V 7
[0103] wherein
[0104] R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, independently, hydrogen or lower
alkyl;
[0105] U and V are, independently, O or NR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5
is, independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl; and
[0106] M is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyimino group, a polyester, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group.
[0107] In one aspect, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are hydrogen, U and V are
oxygen, and M is a polyether group. In another aspect, R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 are hydrogen, U and V are NH, and M is a polyether group.
In a further aspect, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are methyl, U and V are
oxygen, and M is a polyether group. In another aspect, R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 are methyl, U and V are NH, and M is a polyether group.
[0108] In another aspect, the thiol-reactive compound is any of
pharmaceutically-acceptable compounds described above containing at
least one thiol-reactive electrophilic group. FIG. 22 depicts one
embodiment of this aspect. Mitomycin C (MMC) is converted to the
corresponding acrylate (MMC-acrylate). MMC-acrylate is then coupled
with the hydrazide-modified hyaluronan thiol compound HA-DTPH to
produce HA-DT H-MMC. HA-DT H-MMC contains one or more free thiols
groups, which then can couple with PEGDA to produce
HA-DTPH-PEGDA-MMC, which is depicted in FIG. 23.
[0109] In another aspect, the first thiolated macromolecule has the
formula III described above, wherein Y is a residue of
polysaccharide, and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2, and the thiol-reactive compound has the
formula V described above, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are,
independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl; U and V are, independently,
O or NR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5 is, independently, hydrogen or lower
alkyl; and M is a polyether group. In this aspect, (1) Y is a
residue of hyaluronan, and the reaction further comprises reacting
gelatin having at least one thiol group with the compound having
the formula V; (2) the polysaccharide includes a first
polysaccharide and second polysaccharide having the formula I,
wherein in the first polysaccharide, Y is a residue of a first
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan, and in the second polysaccharide, Y is
a residue of a second sulfated-glycosaminoglycan, wherein the first
and second sulfated-glycosaminoglycans are the same or different;
(3) the polysaccharide includes a first polysaccharide and second
polysaccharide having the formula I, wherein in the first
polysaccharide, Y is a residue of hyaluronan, and in the second
polysaccharide, Y is a residue of a sulfated-glycosaminoglycan; or
(4) further reacting a protein, an extracellular matrix protein, or
growth factor having at least one thiol group with the compound
having the formula V.
[0110] In another aspect, described herein is a method for coupling
a compound by reacting a first thiolated macromolecule having at
least one thiol-reactive electrophilic functional group with at
least one compound having at least two thiol groups.
[0111] Any of the macromolecules and thiol-reactive electrophilic
functional groups described above can be used in this aspect. In
this aspect, the first thiolated macromolecule having at least one
thiol-reactive electrophilic functional group and the thiolated
compound have the formula I 8
[0112] wherein
[0113] Y is a residue of the macromolecule;
[0114] Q is the thiol-reactive electrophilic functional group or an
SH group; and
[0115] L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyimino group, a polyester, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group.
[0116] In one aspect, when Q is thiol-reactive electrophilic
functional group, Y is hyaluronan and L is CH.sub.2CH.sub.2 or
CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2. In another aspect, Q is an acrylate, a
methacrylate, an acrylamide, or a methacrylamide.
[0117] In one aspect, examples of compounds having at least two
thiol groups include, but are not limited to, propane-1,3-dithiol,
polyethylene glycol-.alpha.,.OMEGA.-dithiol, para, ortho, or
meta-bisbenzyl thiol, dithiothreitol, a peptide containing two or
more cysteine residues, or dendrimeric thiols.
[0118] The compounds produced by coupling a thiolated compound with
a compound having at least one thiol-reactive electrophilic
functional group possess at least one fragment of the formula VII
9
[0119] wherein
[0120] R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are, independently, hydrogen or lower
alkyl;
[0121] X is an electron-withdrawing group; and
[0122] Y is a residue of a macromolecule.
[0123] In this aspect, X and Y in formula VII can be any of the
electron-withdrawing groups and macromolecules, respectively,
described above. In one aspect, Y is a residue of a polysaccharide
such as hyaluronan or a sulfated-glycosaminoglycan. In another
aspect, R.sup.7 is hydrogen and R.sup.8 is hydrogen or methyl. In
another aspect, Y is a residue of hyaluronan or a
sulfated-glycosaminoglycan; R.sup.7 is hydrogen; R.sup.8 is
hydrogen or methyl; and X is an ester group or an amide group.
[0124] In one aspect, the fragment has the formula IV 10
[0125] wherein
[0126] R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, independently, hydrogen or lower
alkyl;
[0127] U and V are, independently, O or NR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5
is, independently, hydrogen or lower alkyl;
[0128] Y is a residue of a protein;
[0129] Z is a polysaccharide residue or a residue of synthetic
polymer, and
[0130] M is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group.
[0131] In one aspect, Y in formula IV has the formula IX 11
[0132] wherein
[0133] Y' is a residue of a protein, where the protein is any of
the proteins described above;
[0134] L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group, wherein the L group is covalently bonded to
the sulfur atom.
[0135] In one aspect, Z in formula IV has the formula X 12
[0136] wherein
[0137] Z' is a polysaccharide residue or a residue of a synthetic
polymer; and
[0138] L is a polyalkylene group, a polyether group, a polyamide
group, a polyester group, a polyimino group, an aryl group, or a
polythioether group, wherein the L group is covalently bonded to
the sulfur atom.
[0139] In one aspect, the reaction between the thiol reactive
compound and thiol compound is generally conducted at a pH of from
7 to 12, 7.5 to 11, 7.5 to 10, or 7.5 to 9.5, or a pH of 8. In one
aspect, the solvent used can be water (alone) or an aqueous
containing organic solvent. In one aspect, when the mixed solvent
system is used, a base such as a primary, secondary, or tertiary
amine can used. In one aspect, an excess of thiol compound is used
relative to the thiol-reactive compound in order to ensure that all
of the thiol-reactive compound is consumed during the reaction.
Depending upon the selection of the thiol reactive compound, the
thiol compound, the pH of the reaction, and the solvent selected,
coupling can occur from within minutes to several days. If the
reaction is performed in the presence of an oxidant, such as air,
the thiol compound can react with itself or another thiol compound
via oxidative addition to form a disulfide linkage in addition to
reacting with the thiol-reactive compound.
[0140] III. Crosslinked Proteins
[0141] Described herein are methods for coupling a protein with
another molecule using hydrazide compounds. In one aspect, a
protein having at least one hydrazide-reactive group is reacted
with a compound having at least one hydrazide group. In another
aspect, a protein having at least one hydrazide group is reacted
with a compound having at least one hydrazide-reactive group. In
one aspect, the hydrazide-reactive group can be a --COOH group (or
the salt or ester thereof), an aldehyde group, or a ketone group.
The techniques disclosed in international publication nos. WO
02106373 A1 and WO 02/090390 A1, which are incorporated by
reference in their entireties, can be used in this aspect
[0142] In one aspect, the coupled protein has the formula XI 13
[0143] wherein
[0144] J comprises a protein residue; and
[0145] E comprises a fluorescent tag, a radiolabel, a targeting
moiety, a lipid, a peptide, a radionuclide chelator with a
radionuclide, a spin-label, a PEG camouflage, a metal surface, a
glass surface, a plastic surface, or a combination thereof.
[0146] The protein residue can be any protein that has at least one
hydrazide-reactive group or at least one hydrazide group. In one
aspect, the protein can be an extracellular matrix protein, a
partially hydrolyzed extracellular matrix protein, or a
chernically-modifled extracellular matrix protein. In another
aspect, the protein is collagen, elastin, decorin, laminin, or
fibronectin.
[0147] In one aspect, E in formula XI is a reporter group. Examples
of reporter groups include, but are not limited to, a fluorescent
tag, a radiolabel, a targeting moiety, a lipid, a peptide, a
radionuclide chelator with a radionuclide, a spin-label, a PEG
camouflage, a glass surface, a plastic surface, or a combination
thereof. Examples of hydrazide-modified fluorescent groups include,
but are not limited to, BODIPY-hydrazide, fluorescein hydrazide, or
NBD-hexanoyl -hydrazide. Examples of hydrazide-modified radiolabels
include, but are not limited to, 125I-tyrosine-hydrazide,
3H-acetyl-hydrazide, or .sup.14C-acetyl-hydrazide. Examples of
hydrazide-modified targeting moieties include, but are not limited
to, 6-aminohexanoylhydrazide (Z) of integrin targeting peptide,
such as ZYRGDS, Z-tat decapeptide for cell penetration, Z-GFLG for
lysosome targeting, HA oligosaccharide hydrazide for CD-44 cancer
targeting, or N-Ac glucosamine derivative for liver targeting.
Examples of hydrazide-modified lipids include, but are not limited
to, hydrazide of 2'-succinate of Taxol or 2'succinate of a
glucocorticosteroids, alkanoic or perfluoroalkanoate hydrazides,
phosphatidylserine hydrazide, or cholic acid hydrazide. Examples of
hydrazide-modified radionuclides include, but are not limited to,
the reaction product between DTPA anhydride and hydrazine to
produce the corresponding hydrazide, coupling the hydrazide to a
protein, then adding a nuclide such as In-111, Tc-99m, or Y-90.
Examples of spin labels include, but are not limited to, proxyl or
doxyl groups. Examples of glass surfaces include, but are not
limited to, glass silanized with an epoxy or activated ester or a
thiol-reactive electrophilic functional group, beads, or
coverslips. Examples of plastics include, but are not limited to,
plasma-etched polypropylene, chemically-modified polystyrene with
hydrazide, or any other plastic material. In another aspect, E is a
crosslinkable thiol reactive-electrophilic groups such, but not
limited to, acrylic hydrazide or methacrylic hydrazide.
[0148] In another aspect, described herein is a kit including (1) a
compound having at least one hydrazide group; (2) a condensing
agent; (3) a buffer reagent; and (4) a purification column. In one
aspect, the compound can be any compound having at least one
hydrazide group and at least one of the reporter groups described
above. Use of the kit generally involves admixing components
(1)-(3) together with a protein having at least one
hydrazide-reactive group. Components (1)-(3) and the protein can be
added in any order. After the protein and the compound having at
least one hyrazide group have reacted with one another to produce
the coupled protein, the coupled protein is then purified by
passing the admixture containing the coupled protein through a
purification column. Purification columns and techniques for using
the same are known in the art.
[0149] IV. Pharmaceutical Compositions
[0150] In one aspect, any of the compounds produced by the methods
described above can include at least one
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound. The resulting pharmaceutical
composition can provide a system for sustained, continuous delivery
of drugs and other biologically-active agents to tissues adjacent
to or distant from the application site. The biologically-active
agent is capable of providing a local or systemic biological,
physiological or therapeutic effect in the biological system to
which it is applied. For example, the agent can act to control
infection or inflammation, enhance cell growth and tissue
regeneration, control tumor growth, act as an analgesic, promote
anti-cell attachment, and enhance bone growth, among other
functions. Additionally, any of the compounds described herein can
contain combinations of two or more pharmaceutically-acceptable
compounds.
[0151] In one aspect, the pharmaceutically-acceptable compounds can
include substances capable of preventing an infection systemically
in the biological system or locally at the defect site, as for
example, anti-inflammatory agents such as, but not limited to,
pilocarpine, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, cortisone, diclofenac
sodium, indomethacin, 6.varies.-methyl-prednisolone,
corticosterone, dexamethasone, prednisone, and the like;
antibacterial agents including, but not limited to, penicillin,
cephalosporins, bacitracin, tetracycline, doxycycline, gentamycin,
chloroquine, vidarabine, and the like; analgesic agents including,
but not limited to, salicylic acid, acetaminophen, ibuprofen,
naproxen, piroxicam, flurbiprofen, morphine, and the like; local
anesthetics including, but not limited to, cocaine, lidocaine,
benzocaine, and the like; immunogens (vaccines) for stimulating
antibodies against hepatitis, influenza, measles, rubella, tetanus,
polio, rabies, and the like; peptides including, but not limited
to, leuprolide acetate (an LH-RH agonist), nafarelin, and the like.
All compounds are available from Sigma Chemical Co. (Milwaukee,
Wis.).
[0152] Additionally, a substance or metabolic precursor which is
capable of promoting growth and survival of cells and tissues or
augmenting the functioning of cells is useful, as for example, a
nerve growth promoting substance such as a ganglioside, a nerve
growth factor, and the like; a hard or soft tissue growth promoting
agent such as fibronectin (FN), human growth hormone (HGH), a
colony stimulating factor, bone morphogenic protein,
platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-derived growth
factor (IGF-I, IGF-II), transforming growth factor-alpha
(TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), epidermal
growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), interleukin-1
(IL-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and keratinocyte
growth factor (KGF), dried bone material, and the like; and
antineoplastic agents such as methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil,
adriamycin, vinblastine, cisplatin, tumor-specific antibodies
conjugated to toxins, tumor necrosis factor, and the like.
[0153] Other useful substances include hormones such as
progesterone, testosterone, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
(birth control, fertility-enhancement), insulin, and the like;
antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, and the like;
cardiovascular agents such as papaverine, streptokinase and the
like; anti-ulcer agents such as isopropamide iodide, and the like;
bronchodilators such as metaproternal sulfate; aminophylline, and
the like; vasodilators such as theophylline, niacin, minoxidil, and
the like; central nervous system agents such as tranquilizer,
B-adrenergic blocking agent, dopamine, and the like; antipsychotic
agents such as risperidone, narcotic antagonists such as
naltrexone, naloxone, buprenorphine; and other like substances. All
compounds are available from Sigrna Chemical Co. (Milwaukee,
Wis.).
[0154] The pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared using
techniques known in the art. In one aspect, the composition is
prepared by admixing a compound described herein with a
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound. The term "admixing" is
defined as mixing the two components together so that there is no
chemical reaction or physical interaction. The term "admixing" also
includes the chemical reaction or physical interaction between the
compound and the pharmaceutically-acceptable compound. Covalent
bonding to reactive therapeutic drugs, e.g., those having reactive
carboxyl groups, can be undertaken on the compound. For example,
first, carboxylate-containing chemicals such as anti-inflammatory
drugs ibuprofen or hydrocortisone-hemisuccinate can be converted to
the corresponding N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) active esters and can
further react with the NH.sub.2 group of the dihydrazide-modified
polysaccharide. Second, non-covalent entrapment of a
pharmacologically active agent in a cross-linked polysaccharide is
also possible. Third, electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions can
facilitate retention of a pharmaceutically-acceptable compound in a
modified: polysaccharide. For example, the hydrazido group can
non-covalently interact, e.g., with carboxylic acid-containing
steroids and their analogs, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as
Ibuprofen (2-(4-iso-butylphenyl) propionic acid). The protonated
hydrazido group can form salts with a wide variety of anionic
materials such as proteins, heparin or dermatan sulfates,
oligonucleotides, phosphate esters, and the like.
[0155] It will be appreciated that the actual preferred amounts of
active compound in a specified case will vary according to the
specific compound being utilized, the particular compositions
formulated, the mode of application, and the particular situs and
subject being treated. Dosages for a given host can be determined
using conventional considerations, e.g. by customary comparison of
the differential activities of the subject compounds and of a known
agent, e.g., by means of an appropriate conventional
pharmacological protocol. Physicians and formulators, skilled in
the art of determining doses of pharmaceutical compounds, will have
no problems determining dose according to standard recommendations
(Physicians Desk Reference, Barnhart Publishing (1999).
[0156] Pharmaceutical compositions described herein can be
formulated in any excipient the biological system or entity can
tolerate. Examples of such excipients include, but are not limited
to, water, saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, Hank's
solution, and other aqueous physiologically balanced salt
solutions. Nonaqueous vehicles, such as fixed oils, vegetable oils
such as olive oil and sesame oil, triglycerides, propylene glycol,
polyethylene glycol, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl
oleate can also be used. Other useful formulations include
suspensions containing viscosity enhancing agents, such as sodium
carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Excipients can also
contain minor amounts of additives, such as substances that enhance
isotonicity and chemical stability. Examples of buffers include
phosphate buffer, bicarbonate buffer and Tris buffer, while
examples of preservatives include thimerosol, cresols, formalin and
benzyl alcohol.
[0157] Pharmaceutical carriers are known to those skilled in the
art. These most typically would be standard carriers for
administration to humans, including solutions such as sterile
water, saline, and buffered solutions at physiological pH.
[0158] Molecules intended for pharmaceutical delivery can be
formulated in a pharmaceutical composition. Pharmaceutical
compositions can include carriers, thickeners, diluents, buffers,
preservatives, surface active agents and the like in addition to
the molecule of choice. Pharmaceutical compositions can also
include one or more active ingredients such as antimicrobial
agents, antiinflammatory agents, anesthetics, and the like.
[0159] The pharmaceutical composition can be administered in a
number of ways depending on whether local or systemic treatment is
desired, and on the area to be treated. Administration can be
topically (including ophthalmically, vaginally, rectally,
intranasally).
[0160] Preparations for administration include sterile aqueous or
non-aqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Examples of
non-aqueous carriers include water, alcoholic/aqueous solutions,
emulsions or suspensions, including saline and buffered media.
Parenteral vehicles, if needed for collateral use of the disclosed
compositions and methods, include sodium chloride solution,
Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's,
or fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles, if needed for collateral use
of the disclosed compositions and methods, include fluid and
nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers (such as those
based on Ringer's dextrose), and the like. Preservatives and other
additives can also be present such as, for example, antimicrobials,
anti-oxidants, chelating agents, and inert gases and the like.
[0161] Formulations for topical administration can include
ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays,
liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous,
powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like can be necessary or
desirable.
[0162] Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the
condition to, be treated, but will normally be one or more doses
per day, with course of treatment lasting from several days to
several months or until one of ordinary skill in the art determines
the delivery should cease. Persons of ordinary skill can easily
determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition
rates.
[0163] In one aspect, any of the compounds and pharmaceutical
compositions can include living cells. Examples of living cells
include, but are not limited to, fibroblasts, hepatocytes,
chondrocytes, stem cells, bone marrow, muscle cells, cardiac
myocytes, neuronal cells, or pancreatic islet cells.
[0164] V. Methods of Use
[0165] The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions described
herein can be used for a variety of uses related to drug delivery,
small molecule delivery, wound healing, burn injury healing, and
tissue regeneration. The disclosed compositions are useful for
situations which benefit from a hydrated, pericellular environment
in which assembly of other matrix components, presentation of
growth and differentiation factors, cell migration, or tissue
regeneration are desirable.
[0166] The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions described
herein can be placed directly in or on any biological system
without purification as it is composed of biocompatible materials.
Examples of sites the compounds can be placed include, but not
limited to, soft tissue such as muscle or fat; hard tissue such as
bone or cartilage: areas of tissue regeneration; a void space such
as periodontal pocket; surgical incision or other formed pocket or
cavity; a natural cavity such as the oral, vaginal, rectal or nasal
cavities, the cul-de-sac of the eye, and the like; the peritoneal
cavity and organs contained within, and other sites into or onto
which the compounds can be placed including a skin surface defect
such as a cut, scrape or burn area. The present compounds can be
biodegradeable and naturally occurring enzymes will act to degrade
them over time. Components of the compound can be "bioabsorbable"
in that the components of the compound will be broken down and
absorbed within the biological system, for example, by a cell,
tissue and the like. Additionally, the compounds, especially
compounds that have not been rehydrated, can be applied to a
biological system to absorb fluid from an area of interest.
[0167] The compounds described herein can be used as a carrier for
a wide variety of releasable biologically active substances having
curative or therapeutic value for human or non-human animals. Many
of these substances which can be carried by the compound are
discussed above. Included among biologically active materials which
are suitable for incorporation into the gels of the invention are
therapeutic drugs, e.g., anti-inflammatory agents, anti-pyretic
agents, steroidal and non-steroidal drugs for anti-inflammatory
use, hormones, growth factors, contraceptive agents, antivirals,
antibacterials, antifungals, analgesics, hypnotics, sedatives,
tranquilizers, anti-convulsants, muscle relaxants, local
anesthetics, antispasmodics, antiulcer drugs, peptidic agonists,
sympathiomimetic agents, cardiovascular agents, antitumor agents,
oligonucleotides and their analogues and so forth. A biologically
active substance is added in pharmaceutically active amounts.
[0168] In one aspect, the compounds and compositions described
herein can be used for the delivery of living cells to a subject.
Any of the living cells described above can be used in the
aspect.
[0169] In one aspect, the compounds and compositions can be used
for the delivery of growth factors and molecules related to growth
factors. For example the growth factors can be a nerve growth
promoting substance such as a ganglioside, a nerve growth factor,
and the like; a hard or soft tissue growth promoting agent such as
fibronectin (FN), humran growth hormone (HGH), a colony stimulating
factor, bone morphogenic protein, platelet-derived growth factor
(PDGF), insulin derived growth factor (IGF-I, IGF-II), transforming
growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), transforming growth factor-beta
(TGF-beta), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor
(FGF), interleukin-1 (IL-1). Preferred growth factors are bFGF and
TGF-.beta.. Also preferred are vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF) and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF).
[0170] In another aspect, anti-inflammatories bearing carboxyl
groups such as ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and indomethacin can
be used. Other biologically active substances are peptides, which
are naturally occurring, non-naturally occurring or synthetic
polypeptides or their isosteres, such as small peptide hormones or
hormone analogues and protease inhibitors. Spermicides,
antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals and antiproliferatives such
as fluorodeoxyuracil and adriamycin can also be used. These
substances are all known in the art. Compounds are available from
Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.).
[0171] The term "therapeutic drugs" as used herein is intended to
include those defined in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the National Formulary
(NF) are the recognized standards for potency and purity for most
common drug products.
[0172] In one aspect, the pharmaceutically acceptable compound is
pilocarpine, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, cortisone, diclofenac
sodium, indomethacin, 6.varies.-methyl-prednisolone,
corticosterone, dexamethasone and prednisone. However, methods are
also provided wherein delivery of a pharmaceutically-acceptable
compound is for a medical purpose selected from the group of
delivery of contraceptive agents, treating postsurgical adhesions,
promoting skin growth, preventing scarring, dressing wounds,
conducting viscosurgery, conducting viscosupplementation,
engineering tissue.
[0173] The rate of drug delivery depends on the hydrophobicity of
the molecule being released. Hydrophobic molecules, such as
dexamethazone and prednisone are released slowly from the compound
as it swells in an aqueous environment, while hydrophilic
molecules, such as pilocarpine, hydrocortisone, prednisolone,
cortisone, diclofenac sodium, indomethacin,
6.varies.-methyl-prednisolone and corticosterone, are released
quickly. The ability of the compound to maintain a slow, sustained
release of steroidal anti-inflammatories makes the compounds
described herein extremely useful for wound healing after trauma or
surgical intervention. Additionally, the compound can be used as a
barrier system for enhancing cell growth and tissue
regeneration.
[0174] In certain methods the delivery of molecules or reagents
related to angiogenesis and vascularization are achieved. Disclosed
are methods for delivering agents, such as VEGF, that stimulate
microvascularization. Also disclosed are methods for the delivery
of agents that can inhibit angiogenesis and vascularization, such
as those compounds and reagents useful for this purpose disclosed
in but not limited to U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,861 for "Methods of
inhibiting angiogenesis via increasing in vivo concentrations of
endostatin protein;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,865 for "Methods of
treating angiogenesis-induced diseases and pharmaceutical
compositions thereof;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,688 for "Angiostatin
fragments and method of use;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,954 for "Method
of treating tumors using O-substituted fumagillol derivatives;"
U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,403 for "Angiostatin fragments and method of
use;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,069 "Estrogenic compounds as anti-mitotic
agents;" for U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,795 for "Methods of expressing
angiostatic protein;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,372 for "Aggregate
angiostatin and method of use;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,221 for
"Endothelial cell proliferation inhibitor and method of use;" U.S.
Pat. No. 5,854,205 for "Therapeutic antiangiogenic compositions and
methods;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,682 for "Angiostatin fragments and
method of use;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,845 for "Nucleotides encoding
angiostatin protein and method of use;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,876 for
"Method of inhibiting angiogenesis;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,586 for
"Angiogenesis inhibitory agent;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,143 for
"Estrogenic compounds as anti-mitotic agents;" U.S. Pat. No.
5,639,725 for "Angiostatin protein;" U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,074 for
"Estrogenic compounds as anti-angiogenic agents;" U.S. Pat. No.
5,290,807 for "Method for regressing angiogenesis using
o-substituted fumagillol derivatives;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,919
for "Method and a pharmaceutical composition for the inhibition of
angiogenesis" which are herein incorporated by reference for the
material related to molecules for angiogenesis inhibition.
[0175] Described herein are methods for improving wound healing in
a subject in need of such improvement by contacting any of the
compounds or pharmaceutical compositions described herein with a
wound of a subject in need of wound healing improvement. Also
provided are methods to deliver at least one
pharmaceutically-acceptable compound to a patient in need of such
delivery by contacting any of the compounds or pharmaceutical
compositions described herein with at least one tissue capable of
receiving said pharmaceutically-acceptable compound.
[0176] The disclosed compositions can be used for treating a wide
variety of tissue defects in an animal, for example, a tissue with
a void such as a periodontal pocket, a shallow or deep cutaneous
wound, a surgical incision, a bone or cartilage defect, and the
like. For example, the compounds described herein can be in the
form of a hydrogel film. The hydrogel film can be applied to a
defect in bone tissue such as a fracture in an arm or leg bone, a
defect in a tooth, a cartilage defect in the joint, ear, nose, or
throat, and the like. The hydrogel film composed of the compound
described herein can also function as a barrier system for guided
tissue regeneration by providing a surface on or through which the
cells can grow. To enhance regeneration of a hard tissue such as
bone tissue, it is preferred that the hydrogel film provides
support for new cell growth that will replace the matrix as it
becomes gradually absorbed or eroded by body fluids.
[0177] The hydrogel film composed of a compound described herein
can be delivered onto cells, tissues, and/or organs, for example,
by injection, spraying, squirting, brushing, painting, coating, and
the like. Delivery can also be via a cannula, catheter, syringe
with or without a needle, pressure applicator, pump, and the like.
The compound can be applied onto a tissue in the form of a film,
for example, to provide a film dressing on the surface of the
tissue, and/or to adhere to a tissue to another tissue or hydrogel
film, among other applications.
[0178] In one aspect, the compounds described herein are
administered via injection. For many clinical uses, when the
compound is in the form of a hydrogel film, injectable hydrogels
are preferred for three main reasons. First, an injectable hydrogel
could be formed into any desired shape at the site of injury.
Because the initial hydrogels can be sols or moldable putties, the
systems can be positioned in complex shapes and then subsequently
crosslinked to conform to the required dimensions. Second, the
hydrogel would adhere to the tissue during gel formation, and the
resulting mechanical interlocking arising from surface
microroughness would strengthen the tissue-hydrogel interface.
Third, introduction of an in situ-crosslinkable hydrogel could be
accomplished using needle or by laparoscopic methods, thereby
minimizing the invasiveness of the surgical technique.
[0179] The compounds described herein can be used to treat
periodontal disease, gingival tissue overlying the root of the
tooth can be excised to form an envelope or pocket, and the
composition delivered into the pocket and against the exposed root.
The compounds can also be delivered to a tooth defect by making an
incision through the gingival tissue to expose the root, and then
applying the material through the incision onto the root surface by
placing, brushing, squirting, or other means.
[0180] When used to treat a defect on skin or other tissue, the
compounds described herein can be in the form of a hydrogel film
that can be placed on top of the desired area. In this aspect, the
hydrogel film is malleable and can be manipulated to conform to the
contours of the tissue defect.
[0181] The compounds described herein can be applied to an
implantable device such as a suture, claps, prosthesis, catheter,
metal screw, bone plate, pin, a bandage such as gauze, and the
like, to enhance the compatibility and/or performance or function
of an implantable device with a body tissue in an implant site. The
compounds can be used to coat the implantable device. For example,
the compounds could be used to coat the rough surface of an
implantable device to enhance the compatibility of the device by
providing a biocompatable smooth surface which reduces the
occurrence of abrasions from the contact of rough edges with the
adjacent tissue. The compounds can also be used to enhance the
performance or function of an implantable device. For example, when
the compound is a hydrogel film, the hydrogel film can be applied
to a gauze bandage to enhance its compatibility or adhesion with
the tissue to which it is applied. The hydrogel film can also be
applied around a device such as a catheter or colostomy that is
inserted through an incision into the body to help secure the
catheter/colosotomy in place and/or to fill the void between the
device and tissue and form a tight seal to reduce bacterial
infection and loss of body fluid.
[0182] It is understood that the disclosed compositions and methods
can be applied to a subject in need of tissue regeneration. For
example, cells can be incorporated into the compounds described
herein for implantation. In one aspect the subject is a mammal.
Preferred mammals to which the compositions and methods apply are
mice, rats, cows or cattle, horses, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, and
primates, including apes, chimpanzees, orangatangs, and humans. In
another aspect, the compounds and compositions described herein can
be applied to birds.
[0183] When being used in areas related to tissue regeneration such
as wound or burn healing, it is not necessary that the disclosed
methods and compositions eliminate the need for one or more related
accepted therapies. It is understood that any decrease in the
length of time for recovery or increase in the quality of the
recovery obtained by the recipient of the disclosed compositions or
methods has obtained some benefit. It is also understood that some
of the disclosed compositions and methods can be used to prevent or
reduce fibrotic adhesions occurring as a result of wound closure as
a result of trauma, such surgery. It is also understood that
collateral affects provided by the disclosed compositions and
compounds are desirable but not required, such as improved
bacterial resistance or reduced pain etc.
[0184] It is understood that any given particular aspect of the
disclosed compositions and methods can be easily compared to the
specific examples and embodiments disclosed herein, including the
non-polysaccharide based reagents discussed in the Examples. By
performing such a comparison, the relative efficacy of each
particular embodiment can be easily determined. Particularly
preferred assays for the various uses are those assays which are
disclosed in the Examples herein, and it is understood that these
assays, while not necessarily limiting, can be performed with any
of the compositions and methods disclosed herein.
EXAMPLES
[0185] The following examples are put forth so as to provide those
of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and
description of how the compounds, compositions, and methods
described and claimed herein are made and evaluated,: and are
intended to be purely exemplary and are not intended to limit the
scope of what the inventors regard as their invention. Efforts have
been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers (e.g.,
amounts, temperature, etc.) but some errors and deviations should
be accounted for. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by
weight, temperature is in .degree. C. or is at ambient temperature,
and pressure is at or near atmospheric. There are numerous
variations and combinations of reaction conditions, e.g., component
concentrations, desired solvents, solvent mixtures, temperatures,
pressures and other reaction ranges and conditions that can be used
to optimize the product purity and yield obtained from the
described process. Only reasonable and routine experimentation will
be required to optimize such process conditions.
[0186] I. Materials
[0187] Fermentation-derived hyaluronan (HA, sodium salt, M.sub.w
1.5 MDa) was obtained from Clear Solutions Biotech, Inc. (Stony
Brook, N.Y.). 1-Ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide
(EDCI), 3,3'-dithiobis(propanoic acid), 4,4-dithiobis(butanoic
acid), and poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate (M.sub.w 375), and
hydrazine hydrate were from Aldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (PBS), bovine testicular
hyaluronidase (HAse, 330 U/mg) and blue dextran (M.sub.w 200,000)
was from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo.). Dithiothreitol (DTT)
was from Diagnostic Chemicals Limited (Oxford, Conn.).
5,5'-Dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) was from Acros
(Houston, Tex.). 3,3'-dithiobis(propanoic dihydrazide) (DTP) and
4,4'-dithiobis(butyric dihydrazide) (DTB) was synthesized as
previously described in Vercruysse K P, Marecak D M, Marecek J F,
and Prestwich G D. "Synthesis and in vitro degradation of new
polyvalent hydrazide cross-linked hydrogels of hyaluronic acid,"
Bioconjugate Chem 1997;8:686-694, which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety. Poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate
(PEGDA), poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethacrylate (PEGDM),
poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylamide (PEGDAA) and poly(ethylene
glycol)-dimethacrylamide (PEGDMA) were synthesized from
poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(ethylene glycol) diamine (Mw 3,400,
Shearwater Polymers) as described in Elbert D L and Hubbell J A.
"Conjugate addition reactions combined with free-radical
crosslinking for the design of materials for tissue engineering,"
Biomacromolecules 2001;2:430441, which is incorporated by reference
in its entirety. Gelatin from bovine skin (Types B and A, gel
strength approx. 225 bloom), Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline
(PBS), cystein, bovine testicular hyaluronidase (HAse, 330 U/mg),
bacterial collagenase from Clostriditim histolyticum (EC 3.4.24.3,
388 U/mg were obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo.).
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide
(MTT) were obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo.).
5,5'-Dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DINB) was purchased from
Acros (Houston, Tex.).
[0188] Analytical Instrumentation. Proton NMR spectral data were
obtained using a Varian INOVA 400 at 400 MHz. UV-Vis spectral data
were obtained using a Hewlett Packard 8453 UV-visible
spectrophotometer (Palo Alto, Calif.). Gel permeation
chromatography (GPC) analysis was performed using the following
system: Waters 515 HPLC pump, Waters 410 differential
refractometer, Waters.TM. 486 tunable absorbance detector,
Ultrahydrogel 250 or 1000 columns (7.8 mm i.d..times.130 cm)
(Milford, Mass.) The eluent was 200 mM phosphate buffer (pH
6.5)/MeOH=80:20 (v/v) and the flow rate was 0.3 or 0.5 mL/min. The
system was calibrated with standard HA samples provided by Dr. U.
Wik (Phanmacia, Uppsala, Sweden). Fluorescence images of viable
cells were recorded using a Nikon Eclipse TE300 with
epi-fluorescence capabilities. Cell proliferation was determined
using a biochemical assay (Cell-Titer 96 Proliferation Kit,
Promega, Madison, Wis.), MTT assay, or MTS assay at 550 nm, which
was recorded on an OPTI Mx microplate reader (Molecular Devices,
Sunnyvale, Calif.).
[0189] Synthesis of thioacid dihydrazides. The oxidized forms of
the required thiol crosslinkers 3,3'-dithiobis(propanoic hydrazide)
(DTP) and 4,4'-dithiobis(butanoic hydrazide) (DTB) were synthesized
from their diacids as described previously for DTP in Vercruysse,
K. P.; Marecak, D. M.; Marecek, J. F.; Prestwich, G. D.;
Bioconjugate Chem. 1997, 8, 686-694, which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety. Thus, free dicarboxylic acids were
converted into diesters by refluxing in ethanol with acid
catalysis. The diesters were hydrazinolyzed with hydrazine hydrate
to form the corresponding dihydrazides. DTP (Vercruysse, K. P.;
Marecak, D. M.; Marecek, J. F.; Prestwich, G. D. Bioconjugate Chem.
1997, 8,686-694): yield, 92%; .sup.1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d.sub.6):
.delta. 9.05 (s, 2 H, N--NH--C(O)), .delta. 4.21 (s, 4 H,
NH.sub.2--N--C(O)), .delta. 2.88 (t, 4 H, C(O)--C--CH.sub.2--S),
.delta. 2.40 (t, 4 H, N--C(O)--CH.sub.2--C). DTB: yield, 52%;
.sup.1H NMR (400 M , DMSO-d.sub.6): .delta. 8.95 (s, 2 H,
N--NH--C(O)), .delta. 4.15 (s, 4 H, NH.sub.2--N--C(O)), .delta.
2.66 (t,4 H, C--C--CH.sub.2--S), .delta. 2.10 (t, 4 H,
C(O)--CH.sub.2--C--C), .delta. 1.82 (p, 4 H,
C(O)--C--CH.sub.2--C--S); MS-EI, m/z 266.0 (M.sup.+, 1.44); 133.0
(SC.sub.3H.sub.6CON.sub.2H.sub.3.sup.+, 46.78); 101.0
(C.sub.3H.sub.6CON.sub.2H.sub.3.sup.+, 100.0). HRMS for
C.sub.8H.sub.18O.sub.2S.sub.2N.sub.4. Found 266.0864; Calcd.
266.0871.
[0190] Preparation of low molecular weight (LMW) HA by acid
degradation. High molecular weight HA (1.5 MDa) (20 g) was
dissolved in 2.0 L distilled water, and the solution pH was
adjusted to ca. 0.5 by the addition of concentrated HCl. The
degradation was carried out at 37.degree. C., 130 rpm stirring for
24 h. After that, the pH of the solution was adjusted to 7.0 by the
addition of 1.0 N NaOH before transfer to dialysis tubing (M.sub.w
cut-off 3,500) and dialyzed against water for four days. The
solution was then centrifuged, and the supernatant was lyophilized
to give 15 g LMW HA (M.sub.w 246 kDa, Mn 120 kDa, polydispersity
index 1.97).
[0191] II. Disulfide Crosslinked Hyaluronan Hydrogels via Oxidative
Addition
[0192] Preparation of Thiolated HA.
[0193] Thiolated HA derivatives with different loadings were
prepared following a general protocol (FIG. 1). In a representative
example, LMW HA (20 g, 50 mmol) was dissolved in 2.0 L of water,
23.8 g of DTP or 26.6 g of DTB (100 mmol) was added while stirring.
The pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to 4.75 by the addition
of 1.0 N HCl. Next, 19.2 g of EDCI (100 mmol) in solid form was
added. The pH of the reaction mixture was maintained at 4.75 with
aliquots of 1.0 N HCl. The reaction was stopped by addition of 1.0
N NaOH, raising the pH of the reaction mixture to 7.0. Then, 100 g
DTF (ca. 650 mmol) in solid form was added and the pH of the
solution was raised to 8.5 by addition of 1.0 N NaOH. After
stirring for 24 h, the pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to
pH 3.5 by the addition of 1.0 N HCl. The acidified solution was
transferred to dialysis tubing (M.sub.w cut-off 3,500) and dialyzed
exhaustively against dilute HCl (pH 3.5, approximately 0.3 mM)
containing 100 mM NaCl, followed by dialysis against dilute HCl, pH
3.5. The solution was then centrifuged, and the supernatant was
lyophilized. The purity of thiolated HA (HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH) was
measured by GPC and .sup.1H NMR, and the degree of substitution
(SD) was determined by .sup.1H NMR. The free thiols on the side
chain of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH were determined by a modified Ellman
method (Butterworth, P. H. W.; Baum, H.; Porter, J. W. Arch.
Biochem. Biophlys. 1967, 118, 716-723). SD (%) and thiol content
(%) were defined as the number of DTP (or DTB) residues and thiols
per 100 disaccharide units, respectively. Representative results:
HA-DTBH (M.sub.w 165 kDa, M, 63 kDa, polydispersity index 2.62, SD
72%) and HA-DTPH (M.sub.w 136 kDa, M.sub.n 61 kDa, polydispersity
index 2.23, SD 58%). The structures of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH were
confirmed by .sup.1H NMR spectroscopy in D.sub.2O.
[0194] SD was mainly controlled by the molar ratios of HA/DTP/EDC
and reaction time (Table 1). By selecting suitable reaction
parameters, the degree of substitution can be controlled over a
wide range (28% to 67%) (Table 1). Similar results were also
observed in case of DTB-modified HA.
1TABLE 1 Optimization of DTP modification of HA. molar ratio of
reaction time Degree of substitution HA:DTP:EDCI (min) (%) 1:2:2 5
28.8 1:2:2 10 41.7 1:2:2 30 49.2 1:2:2 60 54.4 1:2:2 120 66.8 1:1:2
10 38.9 1:4:2 10 42.5 1:2:1 10 31.1 1:2:0.5 10 26.8
[0195] pK.sub.a determination. The pK.sub.a of thiols in HA-DTPH
and HA-DTBH was determined spectrophotometlically based on the UV
absorption of thiolates as proposed by Benesch and Benesch
(Benesch, R.; Benesch, R. E. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 1958, 44,
848-853). Solutions of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH (ca. 5 mg) were
dissolved in 100 mL 0.001 N HCl containing 0.1 N NaCl (stable ionic
strength). Freshly-prepared solutions were immediately measured in
the UV region with a scan from 190 to 300 nm.
[0196] The pK.sub.a values were determined spectrophotometrically
based on the UV absorption of thiolates (Benesch). With increasing
pH, the absorption of solutions increased abruptly--especially at
the pH near the pK.sub.a of thiols (FIG. 2a). According to the
procedure reported by Lutolf and co-workers (Lutolf, M. P.;
Tirelli, N.; Ceiritelli, S.; Cavalli, L.; Hubbell, J. A.
Bioconjugate Chem. 2001, 12, 1051-1056) the intercept with the
abscissa in a graphical representation of
log[(A.sub.max-A.sub.i)/A.sub.i] vs. pH yielded the pK, value.
There was good linear approximation of the five central points both
for HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH, giving a value of 8.87 for HA-DTPH and
9.01 for HA-DTBH. The pK.sub.a of HA-DTPH was slightly lower than
that of HA-DTBH because the thiol in HA-DTPH was more easily
activated by the proximity of the amide group (FIG. 2b).
[0197] Compared to HA-DTBH, the lower pK.sub.a of thiols in HA-DTPH
suggested increased reactivity and increased capability to
regenerate the disulfide structure under the same conditions. A
qualitative procedure was used to evaluate the reformation of
disulfide. When HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH solutions were in contact with
air, the viscosity increased and a gel formed due to the oxidation
of thiols to disulfide by O.sub.2. At higher pH, both HA-DTPH and
HA-DTBH solutions more easily formed gels because thiols were
converted to more reactive thiolates at higher pH (Table 2). For
instance, with 3.0% HA-DTPH solution (SD 58%), the solution at pH
7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 gelled within 15 min, while at pH 5.0 and 6.0 no
obvious increase in viscosity of solution was observed after 30 min
(Table 2). The thiols of HA-DTBH were less reactive, and thus the
gelation of HA-DTBH solution (3.0% w/v, SD 72%) was sluggish (Table
2).
2TABLE 2 The air-induced gelation of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH solution
(3.0% w/v) determined by a test tube inversion method. HA-DTPH
HA-DTBH pH 15 min 30 min 15 min 30 min 5.0 S S S S 6.0 S S S S 7.0
G G VS VS 8.0 G G VS G 9.0 G G VS G S = solution; G = gel; VS =
highly viscous solution
[0198] Gelation of thiolated HA solutions. The solution (flow)-gel
(no flow) transition was determined by a flow test utilizing a test
tube inverting method reported by Jeong et al. (Jeong, B.; Bae, Y.
H.; Kim, S. W. Macromol. 1999, 32, 7064-7069). HA-DTBH and HA-DTPH
were dissolved in PBS to give 3.0% (w/v) solutions under N.sub.2
protection. The solution pH was adjusted to 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and
9.0 by 1.0 N NaOH. Freshly-prepared solutions (1.0 mL) with
different pH were immediately injected into glass tubes (0.8 cm in
diameter, 7.5 cm in length). After exposure to air at room
temperature for 15 or 30 min, the test tube was inverted. If no
fluidity was visually observed in 1 min, we concluded that that a
gel had formed.
[0199] Preparation of disulfide-crosslinked HA films. HA-DTBH and
HA-DTPH were dissolved in PBS to give 3.0% (w/v) solutions and the
solution pH was adjusted to 7.4 by the addition of 1.0 N NaOH. For
drug-loaded gels, 0.15% (w/v) blue dextran (M.sub.w 200,000) was
included as a model drug. Next, 25 mL of the solution was poured
into a 9-cm petri dish and allowed to dry at room temperature.
After ca. three days, a film ready. As required, the film was
further oxidized by immersion in 0.3% H.sub.2O.sub.2 for 1 h. The
film was then rinsed with distilled water, cut into 6-mm diameter
discs, and dried at room temperature for one day and then at 1 mm
Hg for one week, to give films with 0.1 mm thickness.
[0200] Swelling determination. Discs of HA-DTBH and HA-DTPH film (6
mm in diameter) were weighed (W.sub.0), immersed in glass vials
containing 10 mL PBS (pH 7.4), and placed in a shaking incubator at
37.degree. C., at 300 rpm. At predetermined time intervals, the wet
films were weighed (W.sub.1) immediately after the removal of the
surface water by blotting between two pieces of filter paper.
Swelling ratio (R) was defined as W.sub.t/W.sub.0.
[0201] The swelling of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH films in PBS was in
accordance with the disulfide content in the films as shown in FIG.
3. The air oxidized films swelled significantly because of low
degree of crosslinking, with a swelling ratio at 5.5 h of 16.2 for
HA-DTBH film and 9.5 for HA-DTPH. These ratios are similar to
PEG-dialdehyde crosslinked HA adipic dihydrazide hydrogels used for
drug release (Luo, Y., Kirker, K. R.; Prestwich, G. D. J.
Controlled Rel. 2000, 69, 169-184) and wound repair (Kirker, K. R.;
Luo, Y.; Nielson, J. H.; J.Shelby; Prestwich, G. D. Biomaterials
2002, 23, 3661-3671). After H.sub.2O.sub.2 oxidation, the swelling
ratio decreased to 3.5 for the HA-DTBH film and 2.9 for HA-DTPH
film.
[0202] Disuifide content determination. Discs of HA-DTBH and
HA-DTPH film were degraded by acid hydrolysis (0.1 N HCl). The
total sulfur content (disulfide plus thiol) was measured using
2-nitro-5-thiosulphobenzoate (NTSB) according to Thannhauser et al.
(Thannhauser, T. W.; Konishi, Y.; Scheraga, H. A. Meth. Enzymol.
1987, 143, 115-119). In addition, the free thiol content was
measured by the Ellman method (Ellman, G. L. Arch. Biochem.
Biophys. 1958, 74, 443-450). Disulfide content was calculated from
the difference between total sulfur content and free thiol
content.
[0203] FIG. 4 shows the oxidation with dilute H.sub.2O.sub.2
increased the number of disulfide linkages. For example, the
disulfide content in HA-DTPH film increased from 0.175 to 0.212
mmol/g after the oxidation of H.sub.2O.sub.2. In the case of
HA-DTBH film, fewer disulfide linkages were formed due to air
oxidation because the thiol was less reactive (the value was 0.125
mmol/g); however, this could be increased significantly to 0.25
mmol/g by oxidation with H.sub.2O.sub.2. However, following the
H.sub.2O.sub.2 oxidizing procedure, no additional thiol groups are
detected within both the HA-DTPH and the HA-DTBH films, and only
ca. 30 to 40% of the available thiols formed disulfide bonds. This
suggests that H.sub.2O.sub.2 oxidation of thiol groups not only
created new disulfide bridges, but led to the production of
S-oxidized sulfenic or sulfonic acids that would not be detected
using NTSB and DTNB (Capozzi, G.; Modena, G. In The Chemistry of
the Thiol Group Part II; Patai, S., Ed.; Wiley: New York 1974; pp
785-839).
[0204] Blue dextran release studies. Drug-loaded 6-mm discs of
HA-DTBH and HA-DTPH film were immersed in glass bottles containing
2 mL release media, and placed in an incubator at 37.degree. C., at
300 rpm. At predetermined time intervals, 1 mL supernatant solution
was removed, and the blue dextran content was determined by UV-vis
absorption at 625 nm. Then, 1 mL blank release media was added back
to maintain constant volume. Release media: PBS containing 0, 10
and 50 mM DTT (the media pH was adjusted to pH 7.4 by adding 1.0 N
NaOH) or PBS containing hyalutonidase (HAse, 100 U/mL).
[0205] To further confirm the HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH films were
crosslinked by reversible disulfide linkages, the hydrogel films
were incubated in PBS that contained different concentrations of
DTT at pH 7.4 (data not shown). Even with DTT concentration as low
as 10 mM, films generated from both air and H.sub.2O.sub.2
oxidation swelled significantly and dissolved gradually due to
reduction of disulfide by DTF. As the gels dissolved, a model drug
(blue dextran M.sub.w 200,000) that had been non-covalendy
entrapped in the hydrogel films was released. Thus, within 100 min
both HA-DTPH films that had been further oxidized with
H.sub.2O.sub.2 were dissolved and consequently the blue dextran
model drug was released completely in the presence of DTT
concentration of 10 mM and 50 mM. The release of blue dextran
occurring in the absence of DTT (FIG. 5) was negligible.
[0206] Furthermore, the enzyme HAse also accelerated the release of
model drug (blue dextran) from films. For example, in 48 h the
release percentage of blue dextran from air-oxidized HA-DTPH film
in PBS at 37.degree. C. at 300 rpm was less than 7%, while under
the same conditions in PBS with 100 U/mL Hase, 30% of the blue
dextran was released with concomitant partial degradation of the
film. After 48 h, approximately 36% of the film had been lost due
to enzymatic digestion, as determined gravimetrically.
[0207] In situ cell encapsulation. HA-DTPH (M.sub.w 136 kDa,
M.sub.n=61 kDa, polydispersity index 2.23, SD=58%) was dissolved in
DMEM/F-12 medium (GIBCO, Rockville, Md.) to give a 3.0% (w/v)
solution under N.sub.2 protection, and the solution pH was adjusted
to 7.4 by adding 1.0 N NaOH. Then the solution was sterilized under
UV light for 25 min under N.sub.2 protection. Murine fibroblasts
(L-929, ATCC, Manassas, Va.) were cultured in a triple flask
(Fisher, Springfield, N.J.) until 90% confluence, and then
trypsinized and mixed with HA-DTPH solution to a final
concentration of 2.times.10.sup.6/mL. Next, 0.5 mL of the HA-DTPH
solution was added into each well of a 12-well plate. The
cell-loaded plates were incubated (37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2, 4 h)
until a solid hydrogel formed, and then 2 mL of DMEM/F-12 medium
with 10% of newborn calf serum (GIBCO, Rockville, Md.) was added
into each well. The plates were transferred to an incubator
(37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2, three days) without a change of
medium.
[0208] Cell viability and proliferation. The viability of murine
p929 fibroblasts in the hydrogel was determined by a
double-staining procedure using fluorescein diactate (F-DA) and
propidium iodide (PI) (Kortemme, T.; Creighton, T. E. J. Mol. Biol.
1995, 253, 799-812). F-DA (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.), a
non-fluoresent fluorescein derivative, diffuses through the
membrane of living cells and is hydrolyzed by intracellular
esterase to produce a green fluorescence. PI (Sigma Chemical Co.,
St. Louis, Mo.), which is excluded by intact cell membranes, but
was able to diffuse across a damaged cell membrane, binds to
nucleic acids to produce a bright red fluorescence. Briefly, a 5
mg/ml solution of F-DA in acetone was diluted to 20 .mu.g/ml in PBS
that contained 0.2 .mu.g/ml PI. After 1 and 3 days culture with
encapsulated cells in vitro, the hydrogels were rinsed twice with
PBS, immersed in the diluted F-DA/PI solution for 10 min at room
temperature and then washed with PBS for 5 min. Then, live and dead
cells were observed on a Nikon TS 100 microscope (Nikon, Melville,
N.Y.) with Triple (DAPI/FITC/CY3) filter.
[0209] After different culture times, the number of viable cells in
each hydrogel was determined using a biochemical assay (Cell-Titer
96 Proliferation Kit, Promega, Madison, Wis.) as previously
described (Lutolf, M. P.; Tirelli, N.; Cerritelli, S.; Cavalli, L.;
Hubbell, J. A. Bioconjugate Chem. 2001, 12, 1051-1056). In this
method, a tetrazolium salt (MTS) is reduced by the mitochondria of
living cells into a colored formazan product whose presence can be
detected spectrophotometrically.
[0210] The hydrogels in 12-well plates were rinsed twice with PBS
buffer, then 900 .mu.l of DMEM/F-12 medium with 5% of newborn calf
serum and 180 .mu.L of Cell Titer 96 Proliferation Kit solution
were added into each well. After 2 h of incubation with gentle
shaking (37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2), a 125-.mu.L aliquot of each
of the solutions was transferred individually into a 96-well plate
and read at 550 nm with a OPTI Max microplate reader (Molecular
Devices). The absorbance reading was converted into a cell number
based on standard curves generated from the assay of known numbers
of cells. Data sets were compared using two-tailed, unpaired
t-tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered to be
significant.
[0211] The rapid gelation of HA-DTPH solution under physiological
conditions exhibits potential utility for many biomedical
applications, e.g., wound healing, defect filling, prevention of
post-surgical adhesions, and cell encapsulation for tissue repair.
Murine fibroblasts were entrapped within a crosslinking HA-DTPH
hydrogel, and the encapsulated cells were examined after 24 h and
96 h of culture. Viable cells, indicated by green fluorescence upon
F-DA staining, were evident after 96 h of culture. Fewer than 5%
dead cells were observed as red fluorescence from PI staining (data
not shown). Unlike two-dimensional culture in flasks, the
fibroblasts in the hydrogel maintained a round shape. In addition,
clumps of cells, as well as individual cells, were observed in
hydrogel.
[0212] After in vitro culture for 1, 2, and 3 days, the number of
viable cells residing in the hydrogel were determined by MTS assay
(Cell-Titer 96 Proliferation Kit, Promega, Madison, Wis.). The
results indicated that cells proliferated in hydrogel after culture
of 2 and 3 days, and the cell number increased ca. 15% at day 3,
which was significant with p<0.05 (FIG. 6).
[0213] III. Disulfide Crosslinked Hyaluronan-Gelatin Hydrogels
[0214] Synthesis of thiolated HA and gelatin. Low molecular weight
(LMW) HA (Mw 246 kDa, Mn 120 kDa, polydispersity index 1.97) was
prepared by degradation of high molecular weight HA (1.5 MDa) in
dilute HCl (pH ca. 0.5) for 24 h at 37.degree. C. 150 rpm.
Thiolated HA and gelatin were synthesized separately following a
general protocol as previously described for HA and chondroitin
sulfate (CS) modification (FIG. 7). Thus, 20 g of LMW HA (50 mmol)
or 20 g of gelatin was dissolved in 2.0 L of water, and then DTP
(11.9 g, 50 mmol for HA; 20 g for gelatin) was added while
stirring. The pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to 4.75 by
the addition of 1.0 N HCl. Next EDCI (4.8 g, 25 mmol for HA; 10 g
for gelatin) was added in solid form. The pH of each reaction
mixture was maintained at 4.75 by the addition of aliquots of 1.0 N
HCl. The reaction was stopped by addition of 1.0 N NaOH to increase
the pH to 7.0. Then, 100 g of DTT (ca. 650 mmol) was added in solid
form and the pH of the solution was further increased to 8.5 by
addition of 1.0 N NaOH. After stirring for 24 h at ambient
temperature, the pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to pH 3.5
by the addition of 1.0 N HCl. The acidified solution was
transferred to dialysis tubing (MWCO 3,500) and dialyzed
exhaustively against ca. 0.3 mM HCl solution (pH 3.5) containing
100 mM NaCl, followed by dialysis against 0.3 mM HCl (without salt)
at pH 3.5. The solution was then clarified by centrifugation, and
the supernatant was lyophilized. The purity of thiolated HA
(HA-DTPH) and thiolated gelatin (gelatin-DTPH) were measured by GPC
and .sup.1H NMR, and the degree of substitution (SD) and the free
thiols on the side chain of HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH were
determined by .sup.1H NMR and by a modified Ellman method
(Butterworth P R W, Baum H, and Porter J W. A modification of the
Ellman procedure for the estimation of protein sulfhydryl groups.
Arch Biochem Biophys 1967;1 18:716-723).
[0215] pKa determination. The pKa values for the thiols in HA-DTPH
and gelatin-DTPH were determined spectrophotometrically based on
the UV absorption of thiolates (Benesch R and Benesch RE.
Thiolation of protein. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1958;44:848-853;
Lutolf M P, Tirelli N, Cerritelli S, Cavalli L, and Hubbell J A.
Systematic modulation of Michael-type reactivity of thiols through
the use of charged amino acids. Bioconjugate Chem 2001;
12:1051-1056). Solutions of HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH (ca. 5 mg
each) were dissolved in 100 ml of 0.001 N HCl containing 0.1 N NaCl
(stable ionic strength). UV scans from 190-300 nm were recorded for
freshly-prepared solutions,
[0216] Turbidimetric titration. The electrostatic interactions of
HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH were investigated by turbidimetric
titration (Shu X Z, Zhu K J, and Song W. Novel pH-sensitive citrate
crosslinked chitosan film for drug crontrolled release. Int J Pharm
2001;212: 19-28; Park J M, Muhoberac B B, Dubin P L, and Xia J.
Effects of protein charge heterogeneity in protein-polyelectrolyte
complexatiom Macromolecules 1992;25:290-295). A solution of 1.0
mg/ml of either HA-DTPH or LMW HA and 1.0 mg/ml of either
gelatin-DTPH or unmodified gelatin was prepared at pH 1.5, and
aliquots of a stock NaCl solution were added to adjust the ionic
strength. Titrant (0.01-0.2 N NaOH) was delivered using a
microburette into the solution with gentle stirring at 30
plus/minus 0.5.degree. C., and the pH was monitored by a digital pH
meter with a precision of plus/minus 0.01. Changes in turbidity
were monitored at 420 nm with an WV-vis spectrophotometer and
reported as (100-T)%, which is linearly proportional to the true
turbidity measurements when T>0.9. The time interval between
turbidity measurements was ca. 4 min.
[0217] Next, HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH were dissolved in 0.02 M PBS
(pH 6.5) to give 3.0% (w/v) solutions. The pH of each solution was
adjusted to 7.4 by the addition of 1.0 N NaOH, and then the
solutions were mixed according to volume ratio of
HA-DTPH:gelatin-DTPH of 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and
0:100. At different times, the transmittance of the solutions was
monitored at 550 nm.
[0218] Turbidimetric titration revealed that there were ionic
interaction between LMW HA and gelatin, with the formation of a
polyelectrolyte complex in the pH range 2.3-5.0, where HA was
negatively charged while gelatin (Type B, pI=4.9) was positively
charged (data not shown). This phenomenon was evaluated for the
thiolated derivatives of HA and gelatin, which still have numerous
unmodified carboxylates (1.58 mmol/g for HA-DTPH, 0.65 mmol/g for
gelatin-DTPH) and amine groups (0.35 mmol/g for gelatin-DTPH).
Turbidometric titration indicated that similar electrostatic
interactions occurred in the mixed solutions of HA-DTPH and
getatin-DTPH, but over a broader pH region due to the shift to
higher pI for gelatin-DTPH resulting from conversion of >40% of
the carboxylates to thiols.
[0219] HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH were dissolved in 0.02 M PBS, and
the pH was adjusted to 7.4 to give clear solutions. When mixed,
solutions containing various ratios of HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH
became translucent, and phase separation occurred immediately due
to their electrostatic interactions (FIG. 8). This effect precluded
fabrication of homogeneous, transparent hydrogel films from blends
of HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH. To overcome the formation of
polyelectrolyte complexes, the ionic strength of the solutions was
increased to mask the electrostatic binding. Indeed, turbidimetric
titration revealed that this binding was completely prevented by
3.0% (w/v) NaCl (data not shown). However, this high concentration
of salt disturbed the film formation and resulted in an
unacceptably brittle film. Therefore, 1.0% (w/v) NaCl was added
into HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH solution to permit the formation of
clear solutions at ratios of HA-DTPH to gelatin-DTPH of 80:20,
60:40, 40:60, and 20:80. No phase separation occurred in 2 h (FIG.
8), although after 24 h, these blended solutions also became
opaque, indicating the persistence of electrostatic interactions
between these two macromonomers.
[0220] Preparation of HA-gelatin hydrogel films crosslinked by
disulfide bond. HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH (3.0 g each ) were
separately dissolved in 100 ml of 20 mM PBS buffer (pH 6.5)
containing 1.0% (w/v) NaCl, and then the pH of each solution was
adjusted to 7.4 by the addition of 1.0 N NaOH. Then, HA-DTPH and
gelatin-DTPH solutions were combined in volume ratios of 100:0,
80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100, and thoroughly mixed by
gentle vortexing. The mixed solutions (30 ml) were poured into 9-cm
petri-dishes and allowed to crosslink in air and to dry at room
temperature. After 3 days, air-crosslinked films were obtained and
cut into 6, 8, or 1.6-mm diameter discs. The film discs were then
further oxidized by immersion in 0.1% H.sub.2O.sub.2 for 1 h. The
film discs were then rinsed with distilled water and dried at
ambient pressure and temperature for one day, and then at 1 mm Hg
for one week.
[0221] Based on the above results, 1.0% NaCl was used to shield the
electrostatic interaction between HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH during
film formation and crosslinking. The blended hydrogel films were
obtained by pouring 30 ml of mixed HA-DTPH-gelatin-DTPH solutions
containing 1.0% NaCl (w/v) into 9-cm petri-dishes. Air oxidation
and drying at room temperature produced disulfide-crossslinked
films. Crosslinking density in these films was increased by further
oxidation with 0.1% (w/v) H.sub.2O.sub.2; films were then rinsed
and dried in vacuo.
[0222] The disulfide content of the HA-gelatin hydrogel films was
determined by NTSB after exhaustive acidic hydrolysis (FIG. 9). In
agreement with previous results (Nicolas F L and Gagnieu C H.
Denatured thiolated collagen II. Crosslinking by oxidation.
Biomaterials 1997;18:815-821), only 25-50% of the thiols were
oxidized to disulfides. Since no free thiols were detectedby DTNB
(Ellman G L. A calorimetric method for determining low
concentrations of mercaptans. Arch Biochem Biophys
1958;74:443-450), this indicated that the other thiols were
oxidized by H.sub.2O.sub.2 to S-oxidized sulfinic, sulfenic, or
sulfonic acids that would not be detected using NTSB and DTNB
(Capozzi G and Modena G. Oxidation of thiol. In: Patai S, editor.
The Chemistry of the Thiol Group Part II. New York: Wiley, 1974, p.
785-839). However, in contrast with the thiolated HA alone, a high
proportion of disulfide-crosslinking was observed in the
gelatin-DTPH film, despite the lower acidity of the thiols.
Clearly, additional factors, such as the more flexible conformation
of the modified gelatin and more mobile, longer thiol-containing
side chain could facilitate disulfide formation. For the more rigid
linear polysaccharide HA, ca. 25% of the theoretical disulfide
bonds were formed in the HA-DTPH hydrogel film; however, over 50%
of the theoretical disulfide bonds were formed in gelatin-DTPH
hydrogel film. Thus, even though the thiol concentration in HA-DTPH
(0.768 mmol/g) is higher than for gelatin-DTPH (0.512 mmol/g), a
significantly higher disulfide content was found for the
gelatin-DTPH film (0.123 mmol/g) relative to the HA-DTPH film
(0.100 mmol) (p<0.02). Electrostatic attraction between HA-DTPH
and gelatin-DTPH also facilitated disulfide formation; blended
films had more disulfide bonds than the HA-DTPH film (p<0.01,
except for HA-DTPH:gelatin-DTPH of 80:20). The disulfide density of
the films with ratio of HA-DTPH:gelatin-DTPH of 40:60 (0.136
mmol/g) and 20:80 (0.145 mmol/g) even higher than that in
gelatin-DTPH film (0.123 mmol/g) (p<0.01).
[0223] Swelling determination. Film discs with diameter of 6 mm
were weighed (Wd), immersed in glass vials containing 10 ml PBS (pH
7.4), and placed in an incubator at 37.degree. C., 300 rpm. At
predetermined time intervals, the wet films were weighed 15 (Wt)
immediately after the removal of the surface water by blotting
briefly between two pieces of filter paper. The swelling ratio (R)
was defined as Wt/Wd.
[0224] The equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogel films in PBS
is shown in FIG. 10. With increasing percentages of gelatin-DTPH,
the swelling ratio decreased from 3.27 to 2.33. This ratio is
determined only by the crosslinking density, but is also related to
the bulk properties of the films.
[0225] One of the disadvantages for many HA and gelatin-based
biomaterials is rapid degradation in vivo. Therefore, the
optimization of the mechanical properties and rate of degradation
by co-crosslinking the HA and gelatin was sought. This strategy
proved effective. Preliminary evidence showed that
disulfide-crosslinked HA-DTPH hydrogels would degrade slowly, both
in vitro and in vivo, and that the degradation rate could be
controlled by altering the disulfide-crosslinking density. Thus,
approximately 30% weight loss of HA-DTPH hydrogel film was found
after 42 days of implantation in vivo in mice (data not shown).
With a very high concentration of HAse (300 U/ml) in vitro, only
ca. 8% weight loss of HA-DTPH hydrogel film was observed in 48 h
(data not shown). On the other hand with the same concentration of
enzyme (collagenase 300 U/ml), in 48 h, ca. 62% of gelatin-DTPH
hydrogel film was digested (data not shown). The rapid degradation
of gelatin-based biomaterials could limit usage in many biomedical
applications (Nicolas F L and Gagnieu C H. Denatured thiolated
collagen II. Crosslinking by oxidation. Biomaterials
1997;18:815-821).
[0226] Disulfide content determination. Film discs with diameter of
6 mm were degraded by acid hydrolysis (0.1 N HCl, 37.degree. C.,
150 rpm for 10 days). The total sulfur content (S-S+SH) was
measured using 2-nitro-5thiosulfobenzoate (NTSB) (Thannhauser T W,
Konishi Y, and Scheraga H A. Analysis for disulfide bonds in
peptides and proteins. Methods In Enzymology 1987;143:115-119), and
the free thiol content was measured by the Ellman method (Ellman G
L. A colorimetric method for determining low concentrations of
mercaptans. Arch Biochem Biophys 1958;74:443-450). Disulfide
content, equivalent to crosslinking density, was calculated as the
difference between total sulfur content and free thiol content.
[0227] In vitro degradation of HA-gelatin hydrogel film. The
degradation of disulfide-crosslinked HA-gelatin films was performed
using collagenase and HAse. Film discs with diameter of 8 mm were
incubated in a glass bottle containing 3 ml medium with 300 U/ml
collagenase or HAse, and placed in an incubator at 37.degree. C.,
150 rpm. The medium was changed every two days. At predetermined
intervals, the films were washed five times with distilled water
and dried under vacuum. The buffer used for collagenase was 100 mM
Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4) containing 5 mM CaCl.sub.2 and 0.05 mg/ml
sodium azide (Choi Y S, Hong S R, Lee Y M, Song K W, Park M H, and
Nam Y S. Studies on gelatin-containing artifical skin:II.
preparation and characterization of crosslinked gelatin-hyaluronate
sponge. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 1999;48:631-639). HAse
digestions were performed in 30 mM citric acid, 150 mM
Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 150 mM NaCl (pH 6.3) (Bulpitt P and Aeschlimann
D. New strategy for chemical modification of hyaluronic acid:
Preparation of functionalized derivatives and their use in the
formation of novel biocompatible hydrogels. J Biomed Mater Res
1999;47:152-169). For simultaneous digestion with collagenase and
HAse, the buffer used was 100 mM. Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4)
containing 5 mM CaCl.sub.2, 150 mM NaCl, and 0.05 mg/ml sodium
azide. The weight loss fraction was determined as (1-Wt/W0), where
Wt is the weight of dried film at time t, and W0 is the original
weight of dried film.
[0228] The blending of HA-DTPH with the gelatin-DTPH in films
significantly slowed digestion by collagenase. Thus, with 300 U/ml
collagenase, HA-gelatin films (80% or 60% gelatin), the weight loss
in two days was only 15% and 2%, respectively (FIGS. 11a and 11b).
These films were also more resistant to the digestion by HAse than
HA-DTPH films, with less than 5% weight loss in 300 U/ml HAse for
two days (FIGS. 11a and b). When both HAse and collagenase were
present, degradation of HA-gelatin film was accelerated. For
instance, the weight loss after 7 days for an HA-gelatin (60%
gelatin) film was 18% with 300 U/ml collagenase and 5% with HAse;
with both enzymes combined, weight loss was as high as 50% (FIG
11b).
[0229] Cell growth on the surface of hydrogel films. The growth of
murine Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts (ATCC) on disulfide-crosslinked
HA/gelatin hydrogel film was evaluated. The cells were cultivated
in Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM, GIBCO) supplemented with 10%
newborn calf serum (GIBCO), Pen-Strep, L-glutamine and sodium
bicarbonate. The fibroblasts were trypsinized in the logarithmic
growth state and evenly seeded onto the hydrogel surfaces at ca.
5,000 or at 25,000 cells/cm.sup.2.
[0230] Cell viability. An in situ fluorescence viability assay with
fluorescein diacetate (F-DA, Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.) was
performed to assess the cell viability on the hydrogel surface. A 5
mg/ml solution of F-DA in acetone was prepared and diluted to 0.02
mg/ml in PBS. After 24 h of in vitro culture in an incubator with
5% CO.sub.2 at 37.degree. C. (25,000 cells/cm.sup.2 were initially
seeded), the hydrogel films were rinsed with PBS twice to remove
the unattached cells, and then immersed in the diluted F-DA
solution for 3 min at room temperature and then washed in PBS for 5
min. Fluorescence in the live cells was observed using a Nikon TS
100 microscope (Nikon, Melville, N.Y.) with DAPI filter, and
photomicrographs of the cell attachment and spreading were
recorded.
[0231] Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were seeded on the surface of the
HA-gelatin films of different compositions and cultured in vitro
for 24 h, and then the live cells were stained with F-DA to give
green fluorescence. A morphological study revealed that only a very
small number of cells with spherical shape were attached to the
surface of HA-DTPH hydrogel film that lacked a protein component
(FIG. 12a). Addition of gelatin-DTPH significantly improved the
cell attachment (FIG. 12b-12d), even at 20% (w/v). At gelatin
concentrations of 40% and higher, the majority of cells adopted a
spindle-shaped morphology and spread uniformly on the hydrogel
surface (FIG. 12b-12d).
[0232] Cell proliferation. The surfaces of 2-cm.sup.2 film discs
were seeded with 5,000 cells/cm.sup.2. After 24 and 72 h of
incubation without changing the cell culture media, the cell
numbers were evaluated by the metabolic reduction of MTT to a
colored formazan dye by viable cells. Thus, sterile aliquots of a 5
mg/ml stock solution of MTT in PBS were added at a ratio of 60 1
per 500 1 of medium to each film disc (2 cm.sup.2) and incubated
for 4 h at 37.degree. C. Then, the medium was discarded, and each
film disc was incubated in 1.0 ml DMSO to lyse the cells and
dissolve the dyes. Cell-fiee film discs were used as blanks. Next,
200 .mu.l of each DMSO solution was transferred into a 96-well
plate anid the absorption was recorded at 550 nm on an OPTI Max
Microplate Reader.
[0233] Using cell culture-grade polystyrene as control, the
proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts on the hydrogel surface was
evaluated. The cells were initially seeded at a density of 5,000
cells/cm.sup.2, and cultured in vitro for one day and three days.
and then the cell number was determined by MTT assay. The cell
number in cell culture polystyrene after one day culture was
defined as 1.0 and the relative cell density was calculated. FIG.
13 shows that while cells on the HA-DTPH hydrogel surface failed to
proliferate, increasing percentages of gelatin in the films result
in accelerated cell proliferation. After three days culture in
vitro, the cell number on the hydrogel surface with a gelatin
percentage greater than 60% (w/v), was more than 50% of the
polystyrene control, while the cell number on gelatin-DTPH hydrogel
surface was 85% of the control.
[0234] Statistical analysis. Data sets were compared using
two-tailed, unpaired t-tests; values of p<0.05 were considered
to be significant
[0235] IV. Preparation of Hydrogels via Michael Addition
[0236] Synthesis of thiolated HA and thiolated gelatin. Low
molecular weight (LMW) HA (M.sub.w 246 kDa, M.sub.n 120 kDa,
polydispersity index 1.97) was used after the degradation of high
molecular weight HA (1.5 MDa) in dilute HCl (pH 0.5) for 24 h at
37.degree. C. 150 rpm. Thiolated HA (HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH) and
thiolated gelatin (gelatin-DTPH and gelatin-DTBH) were synthesized
as described above. The degree of substitution (SD), i.e., the
fraction of carboxylates modified, was calculated from the
integrated .sup.1H-NMR spectrum.
[0237] Synthesis of Homobifunctional PEG Electrophiles
[0238] PEG-diacrylate (PEGDA), PEG-dimethacrylate (PEGDM),
PEG-diacrylamide (PEGDAA) and PEG-imethacrylainide (PEGDMA) were
synthesized from PEG (Mw 3400 KDa, Aldrich) or PEG-diamine (M.sub.w
3400, Shearwater Polymers) as described with minor modifications.
Briefly: PEG (or PEG-diamine) molecular weight 3400 (10 g, 5.88
mmol of functional group) was azeotropically distilled with 400 ml
of toluene under argon, removing ca. 100 ml of toluene. The
anhydrous solution was cooled at room temperature under argon and
then cooled in an ice bath. Anhydrous dichloromethane (Aldrich)
(ca. 50 ml) was added until the solution become clear.
Triethylamine (1.23 ml, 8.82 mmol, Aldrich) was added dropwise with
stirring, followed by the dropwise addition of 0.72 ml of acryloyl
chloride (8.82 mmol, Aldrich) or 0.85 ml of methacryloyl chloride
(8.82 mmol, Aldrich). The reaction was stirred in the dark,
overnight under argon. The solutions were then filtered under
vacuum until clear, and the product was precipitated in diethyl
ether, collected by filtration and dried under vacuum. Next, 10 g
of the product were dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water, adding 5
g of NaCl (the pH was adjusted to 6). The derivatives were then
extracted 3 times with dichloromethane and precipitated in diethyl
ether, and collected by filtration and dried under vacuum. PEG
diacrylate: yield 75%. .sup.1H-NMR (DCCl.sub.3): 3.6 ppm (303.5 H,
PEG), 4.3 ppm (t, 4H, --CH.sub.2--CH.sub.2--O--CO--CH.dbd.C-
H.sub.2), 5.8 ppm (dd, 2H, CH.sub.2.dbd.CH--COO), 6.1 ppm, 6.4 ppm
(dd, 4 H, CH.sub.2.dbd.CH--COO--). Degree of substitution 95%. PEG
dimethacrylate: yield 60%. .sup.1H-NMR (DCCl.sub.3): 2.3 ppm (s, 6
H, CH.sub.2.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)--COO--), 3.6 ppm (303.5 H, PEG), 4.3
ppm (t, 4H, --CH.sub.2--CH2--O--CO--C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CH.sub.2), 5.8
ppm, 6.1 ppm (d, 4 H, CH.sub.2.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)--COO--). Degree of
substitution 91%. PEG diacrylamide: yield 75%. .sup.1H-NMR
(DCCl.sub.3): 3.6 ppm (304.4 H, PEG), 5.6 ppm (dd, 2 H,
CH.sub.2.dbd.CH--CON--), 6.1 ppm and 6.3 ppm (dd, 4 H.
CHCH--COO--). Degree of substitution 100%. PEG dimethacrylamide:
yield 71%. .sup.1H-NMR (DCCl.sub.3): 2 ppm (s, 6 H,
CH.sub.2.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)--CON--), 3.6 ppm (304.4 H, PEG), 5.3 ppm,
5.8 ppm (d, 4 H, CH2.dbd.C(CH.sub.3)--CON--). Degree of
substitution 100%.
[0239] Conjugate addition. The relative reactivity of conjugate
addition of .alpha..beta.-unsaturated esters and amides of
poly(ethylene glycol) to thiols was first evaluated using cysteine
as a model. The conjugate addition of cysteine to each of the four
electrophilic species is shown in FIG. 15. Cysteine (2.5 mg) and
PEG-diacrylate (PEGDA), PEG-dimethacrylate (PEDMA),
PEG-diacrylamide (PEGDAA) or PEG-dimethacrylamide (PEGDMA) were
dissolved in 5 ml of 0.1 N PBS, pH 7.4 (ratio of double bond/SH
2/1). Then the consuming of thiols was monitored by DTNB (Ellman)
or NTSB (Thannhauser). Next, the conjugate addition of thiols with
different reactivity (i.e., different pKa values) was evaluated
using the MW 375 monofunctional PEG-acrylate as a model compound.
HA-DTPH or HA-DTBH (10 mg) was dissolved in 5 ml of 0.1 N PBS, pH
7.4, and then PEG-acrylate was added (double bond:thiol=10:1). The
consumption of free thiols was monitored using DTNB (Ellman,
Thannhauser).
[0240] Hydrogel preparation. Thiolated HA and/or thiolated gelatin
were dissolved in cell culture medium to give 1.25% (w/v) solution,
and the pH was adjusted to 7.4. Two .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated
ester and two .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated amide derivatives of PEG
were synthesized and used to crosslink thiolated HA and gelatin
(FIG. 14). Each of the four PEG derivatives (PEGDA, PEGDM, PEGDAA,
and PEGDMA) was dissolved in PBS to give 4.5% (w/v) stock solution.
Then, 1 ml of the stock reactive PEG solution was added in one
portion to 4 ml of the thiolated HA, thiolated gelatin solution, or
a blend of the two components, and mixed for 30 seconds. Gel
formation occurred within 10 min (PEGDA) to several days (PEGDMA),
with the time dependent on the structure of the reactive PEG
derivative. The conjugate addition of HA-DTPH to a low molecular
weight PEG-monoacrylate was a slightly faster than between with the
less reactive HA-DTBH (FIG. 16).
[0241] Determination of Crosslinking Efficiency
[0242] Crosslinking was evaluated in detail for both thiolated HA
deriviatives with PEGDA as the homobifunctional crosslinker. After
1 h, a mixture of each thiolated HA (HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH) and PEGDA
had completely gelled. The resulting hydrogels were then incubated
in medium (pH 4.5 or 1.0) to quench the crosslinking addition, and
the crosslinking efficiency was determined by measuring the
remaining free PEG electophile and the remaining free thiols and
performing the calculations indicated below.
[0243] First, the quantity of free PEGDA in the hydrogel was
determined by GPC with monitoring of the eluent at 233 nm. Briefly,
the hydrogel (0.1 ml) was ground into small particles and suspended
in 2 ml of 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.5). After stirring for 4 h at
room temperature, the amount of residual PEG derivatives was
determined using a standard calibration curve. No free thiolated HA
was detected by GPC at 210 nm.
[0244] Next, the free thiols in the hydrogel were determined using
either the DTNB or NTSB assay. Briefly, a 0.05-ml fragment of
hydrogel was suspended in 0.5 ml of 0.1 N HCl solution. After 48 h
at room temperature with agitation at 150 rpm, the hydrogel had
dissociated. Next, 2.0 ml of either NTSB or DTNB reagent was added
to each gel, and the number of free thiols in the hydrogel was
determined spectrophotometrically at 412 nin. Thiolated HA
solutions alone were used as reference materials, and the disulfide
formation during hydrogel preparation (1 h) under nitrogen
protection was negligible.
[0245] The extent of effective crosslinking (i.e., double-end
anchorage), unreacted pendent double bond groups during the
coupling reaction (i.e., single-end anchorage) was calculated from
the total PEGDA used (A), the unreacted PEGDA (B), the total thiols
(C) and the free thiols in hydrogel (D). Single-end anchorage
equals to the theoretical consumed thiols (2(A-B)) minus the
actually consumed thiols (C-D). Subtraction of single-end anchorage
from the experimentally measured consumed thiols (C-D) reveals the
extent of double-end anchorage. Table 3 shows the crosslinking
efficiencies, and Table 4 shows the crosslinking densities,
equilibrium swelling ratios, and gelation times for the gels
obtained by the reaction of HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH.
3TABLE 3 Crosslinking efficiency of PEGDA to HA-DTPH and HA-DTBH
Crosslinking efficiency (%) Molar ratio of PEGDA of thiols to
Double-end Single-end double bonds anchorage anchorage Unreacted
HA-DTPH:PEGDA 1:1 76.2 9.7 14.1 2:1 93.7 6.3 0 3:1 100.0 0 0
HA-DTBH:PEGDA 1:1 48.3 19.3 32.4 2:1 60.0 12.7 27.3 3:1 73.8 8.3
17.9
[0246]
4TABLE 4 Crosslinking density, equilibrium swelling ratio (Q) and
gelation time for gels prepared using PEGDA (Mw 3400) with HA-DTPH
and HA-DTBH Molar ratio of thiols to Crosslinking Swelling Gelation
double density ratio time bonds (mmol/ml)* (Q) (min) HA- 1:1 8.1
39.41 .+-. 0.34 5 DTPH:PEGDA 2:1 5.0 46.15 .+-. 0.38 9 3:1 3.5
61.06 .+-. 0.89 19 HA- 1:1 5.1 58.14 .+-. 0.94 11 DTBH:PEGDA 2:1
3.2 69.33 .+-. 2.94 19 3:1 2.6 84.62 .+-. 1.98 31 *Crosslinking
density was defined as the number of effective crosslinking sites
in 1 ml of hydrogel.
[0247] Swelling Determination
[0248] Hydrogels were placed in PBS buffer at 37.degree. C. for 48
h and the medium was changed frequently. The swelling ratio (Q) was
defined as a ratio of the weight of swollen gel to the weight of
dry gel. The weight of the dry gels was determined by washing the
hydrogel with distilled water 5 times and then drying the gel under
vacuum (1 mm Hg) at room temperature for 3 days.
[0249] The degradation of hydrogel. Hydrogel discs (0.5 ml) were
prepared from HA-DTPH and PEGDA as described above by crosslinking
in the bottom of a 6-mm diameter vial. Hyaluronidase (HAse)
solutions (0, 50, 150 and 250 U/ml) were prepared in 30 mM citric
acid, 150 mM Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, 150 mM NaCl (pH 6;3); 5 ml of
enzyme solution was added to each vial containing the hydrogel, and
vials were incubated at 37.degree. C. with orbital agitation at 150
rpm. The degradation of the gel was determined from the release of
glucuronic acid into the supernatant as measured by the carbazole
assay (Bitter T and Muir H. A modified uronic acid carbozole
reaction. Anal. Biochem. 1962;4:330-334). FIG. 17 shows the
digestion of a HA-DTPH/-PEGDA hydrogel by HAse, showing that at
lower concentrations of enzyme the gel remains largely intact for
several days in vitro.
[0250] In Vitro Cell Culture
[0251] Preparation of composites of T31 fibroblasts and
HA-DTPH/PEG-diacrylate hydrogel. HA-DTPH solution (1.25%(w/v)) was
prepared by dissolving lyophilized HA-DTPH (SD=42%) in complete
DMEM/F-12 medium, adjusted pH=7.4.about.7.5 with 1.0N NaOH, and
sterilized by filtration with 0.45 .mu.m syringe filter. Next, a
4.5% PEGDA solution was prepared by dissolving PEGDA in PBS buffer
and sterilized by filtration with 0.45 .mu.m syringe filter. Then,
T31 human pharyngeal fibroblasts that had been cultured in triple
flasks (175 cm.sup.2) and trypsinized with 0.25% sterile trypsin in
0.05% EDTA, were suspended in freshly prepared HA-DTPH solution at
concentration of 10.sup.6 cells/ml. To four volumes of the cell
suspension was added one volume of the PEGDA stock solution, and
the mixture was vortexed gently. Next, 300 .mu.l of the mixture of
the fibroblast-seeded HA-DTPH-PEGDA mixture was poured into each
well of 12-well plate and gelation was allowed to occur (1 h).
Finally, complete DMEM/F-12 medium was added into each well and the
plate was incubated for at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2
incubator. The medium was changed every three days without damaging
the gel. The seeded hydrogels were used to determine in vitro cell
viability and proliferation and for transplantation in vivo into
nude mice for fibrous tissue generation.
[0252] Cell viability and proliferation. Viability was determined
with live-dead staining methods at day 6 and day 28 of culture in
vitro. At each time, four fibroblast-seeded HA-DTPH-PEGDA hydrogels
were rinsed twice with PBS buffer, stained for 3 min with
fluorescein diacetate (F-DA, 0.02 mg/ml) and propidium iodide (PL
0.2 .mu.g/ml) at room temperature, rinsed twice with PBS buffer,
stored on ice, and observed using a confocal microscope. The
density of living cells in the gel was demonstrated by in situ
fluorescence staining, and greatly increased after 28 days culture
in vitro compared with that of 6 days. No dead cells were found as
demonstrated by the absence of PI staining. FIG. 18 shows the
viability after 28 days of culture in vitro.
[0253] Cell proliferation was determined at day 0, 3, 6, 14, and
28. At each time, four fibroblast-seeded HA-DTPH-PEGDA hydrogels
were transferred into each well of a 12-well plate, and rinsed
twice with PBS buffer. Next, 900 .mu.L of DMEM/F-12 medium with 5%
newborn calf serum and 180 .mu.l of CellTiter 96 Proliferation Kit
(Promega, Madison, Wis.) were added into each well of a 12-well
plate. After 2 hr at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator on an
orbital shaker, 125 .mu.l of the solution was transferred into each
of six wells of a 96-well plate. Absorbance (.lambda.=550 nm) was
measured using an OPTI Max microplate reader (Molecular Devices,
Sunnyvale, Calif.) and was converted into cell number based on a
standard curve. The number of fibroblasts in the HA-DTPH-PEGDA
hydrogel increased almost tenfold after 28 days of culture ini
vitro (FIG. 19).
[0254] Collagen Typing
[0255] At each time point (day 0, 3, 6, 14, and 28), four
fibroblast-seeded HA-DTPH-PEGDA hydrogels were minced with 22 gauze
needles, digested in 5% cyanogen bromide (CNBr, Sigma) in 70%
formic acid (Sigma) for 8 h at 35.degree. C., diluted with same
volume of distilled water, and lyophilized overnight. The
lyophilized samples were dissolved in PBS buffer and read with Cary
3E spectrophotometer (Varian, Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif.) at 280 nm
to determine the protein concentration. Sample buffer containing
.beta.-mercaptoethanol was added (50 .mu.g of sample per 20 .mu.l
of sample buffer) and aliquots were separated on a 10% PAGE/SDS at
80 v for 8 h plus 300 v. for 3 h. The gel was silver stained and
collagen peptide fragments were analyzed by comparison with
standard collagen type I fragments. The collagen typing of these
cultured fibroblasts showed that even after 28 days of in vitro
culture, the cells retained the same phenotype as characterized by
collagen type I production.
[0256] In vivo implantation of fibroblast-seeded hydrogels. Animal
experiments were carried our according to NIH guidelines for the
care and use of laboratory animals. Male nude mice (n=12) (Simonsen
Laboratories Inc., Gilroy, Calif.), 4-6 weeks old, were reared in
the Animal Resources Center at The University of Utah. Under
anesthesia, four fibroblast-seeded HA-DTPH-PEGDA hydrogels were
implanted bilaterally into subcutaneous pockets surgically prepared
in the backs of nude. mice. These served as the experimental group,
including 24 implants in 6 nude mice, following an approved IACUC
protocol. Six additional nude mice received 24 non-cell-loaded
HA-DTPH-PEGDA hydrogels as the control group. At each time point
(2, 4, and 8 weeks after implantation), four nude mice (two
experimentals and two controls) were sacrificed and the specimens
were dissected for macrographical and immunohistochemical
(anti-fibronectin) evaluation.
[0257] After removal from the mice, the explants appeared more
opalescent and elastic with increasing implantation time,
suggesting increased cell density (FIG. 20). The gross examination
was confirmed by histology (FIG. 21), by staining for fibronectin
production. In controls, after 8 weeks of implantation in nude
mice, there was no new fibrous tissue formed. In the experimentals,
little new fibrous tissue was observed, likely because the cell
density for initial seeding was too low, and cell attachment and
proliferation factors were added to the implanted gel. Burdick and
Anseth (Burdick J A and Anseth K S. Photoencapsulation of
osteoblasts in injectable RGD-modified PEG hydrogel for bone tissue
engineering. Biomaterials 2002;23:4315-4323) photoencapsulated
osteoblasts in an injectable RGD-modified PEG hydrogel for bone
tissue engineering. However the cell number decreased following two
weeks culture in vitro. In our case, T31 fibroblast increased
tenfold after 28 days itt vitro culture, which indicated the
injectable hydrogel described here was excellent candidate for
tissue regeneration.
[0258] V. Preparation of Mitomycin C Hydogel Films
[0259] Synthesis of MMC-acrylate. Mitomycin C (2 mg) was dissolved
in 10 ml dried methylene chloride, and 1.7 .mu.l TEA and 1 .mu.l
distilled acryloyl chloride were added consecutively (FIG. 22). The
reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, then
concentrated and purified by a silica column (methylene
chloride:methanol=20:1). The yield is 1.78 mg. .sup.1H NMR (400
MHz, MeOD-d3): .delta.6.31 (dd, J=2, J=10, 2'-H), 5.82 (dd,
J=10,J=2.4, 1H, 3'-H), 5.48 (d, J=0.8, 1H, 3'-H), 4.81 (dd,
obscured by MeOH, 1H, 10-H), 4.49 (d, J=13, 1H, 3-H), 3.93 (t,
J=11, 1H, 3-H), 3.67 (d, J=4.4, 1H, 10-H), 3.64 (d, J=4.8, 1H,
9-H), 3.51 (d, J=12, 1H, 1-H), 3.48 (dd, J=1.2, J=4.8, 1H, 2-H),
3.24 (s, 3H, 9a-OCH.sub.3), 1.75 (s, 3H, 6-CH.sub.3). .sup.13C NMR
(400 MHz, MeOD-d3): .delta. 177.7 (C-1'), 176.1 (C-5), 176.0 (C-8),
158.4 (CONH.sub.2), 155.4 (C-4a), 149.7 (C-7), 130.4 (C-2'), 129.4
(C-3'), 109.9 (C-8a), 106.0 (C-9a), 103.8 (C-6), 61.5 (C-10), 53.6
(C-9), 49.0 (9a-OCH.sub.3), 48.9 (C-3), 42.3 (C-1), 40.9 (C-2), 6.9
(6-CH.sub.3).
[0260] Preparation of MMC-HA.
[0261] Model Reaction of MMC-Acrylate React with Thiol Group:
14
[0262] The reaction time of MMC-acrylate conjugate to thiol
modified HA was derived by a model reaction. Double protected
cysteine was used as a model reagent to react with MMC-acryloyl.
The concentration of thiol group was measured using
2-nitro-5-thiosulfobenzoate (NTSB) or Ellman reagent. The reaction
was performed in PBS buffer (pH 8.0) with a concentration of
MMC-acrylate of 0.3 mg/mL and an initial ratio of 2 acrylatrs to 1
thiol.
[0263] Preparation of HA-MMC Conjugate
[0264] Thiol-modified HA was prepared using the hydrazide
technology described above. Briefly, low molecular weight HA (200 k
Da) was reacted with 3,3'-dithiobis propanoic hydrazide (DTPH) at
pH 4.75 by the carbodiimide-catalysed reaction. The gel like
product was reduced by solid form DTT, after dialysis, the
thiolated HA derivatives were prepared with different loadings.
HA-DTPH was dissolved in PBS buffer to the concentration of 1.25%
(w/v). Modified MMC was dissolved in minimal ethanol and added into
the HA-DTPH solution. The theoretical MMC loading to the
disaccharides was 0.5%, 1% and 2% respectively. The procedure was
conducted under N.sub.2 protection and the final pH of the mixture
was adjusted to 8.0. The reaction was processed for three hours
with stirring. FIG. 22 depicts the reaction sequence.
[0265] Preparation of HA-MMC-PEG Hydrogel Films
[0266] HA-MMC solution was adjusted to pH 7.4 after the coupling
reaction. PEG diacrylate was dissolved in PBS buffer to the
concentration of 4.5% (w/v). The two solutions were mixed together
and vortexed for one minute. The reaction mixture was removed by
Eppendorf.RTM. Combitips and added to 2 cm.times.2 cm dishes, 2
mL/dishes. The hydrogels were formed in about half hour and were
evaporated in air to dryness for several days to form the films.
FIG. 23 depicts the reaction sequence.
[0267] MMC release experiment. Dried hydrogel films were cut into 2
cm squares. The square gel film and the cut off margin were weighed
separately, and the MMC contained in each square film was
calculated. Each film was dipped into 5 mL 100 mM PBS buffer and
shaken gently at 37.degree. C. At each time point, 0.5 mL solution
was removed and 0.5 mL fresh PBS buffer was added. The solution
containing released MMC was detected at a wavelength of 358 nm. The
accumulated concentration of released MMC was plotted as a function
of the time.
[0268] FIGS. 25a and b show the results of in vitro MMC release
results. FIG. 25a shows the absolute released concentration. The
released MMC is proportional to the MMC contained in the hydrogel.
The relative release pattern is shown in FIG. 25b after repoltting
the data. HA films with 1% and 2% MMC loadings have similar release
profiles. At the first half hour, about 13% MMC was released from
the hydrogel, which may come from two sources: one was the
uncoupled MMC, the other was hydrolyzed MMC. Then a slow release
pattern was observed with a half-life around 48 hours. The release
of MMC continued for 5 days until reaching a platform. There were
still a considerable amount of MMC embeded in the film after 8
days. These results indicate that the newly synthesized HA-MMC-PEG
hydrogel has similar hydrolysis kinetics as the described MMC-TA
conjugate.
[0269] Throughout this application, various publications are
referenced. The disclosures of these publications in their
entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this
application in order to more fully describe the compounds,
compositions and methods described herein.
[0270] Various modifications and variations can be made to the
compounds, compositions and methods described herein. Other aspects
of the compounds, compositions and methods described herein will be
apparent from consideration of the specification and practice of
the compounds, compositions and methods disclosed herein. It is
intended that the specification and examples be considered as
exemplary.
* * * * *