{"title":"Switchable Nanophotosensitizers as Pyroptosis Inducers for Targeted Boosting of Antitumor Photoimmunotherapy.","authors":"Xiaoxi Zhao, Qinjie Zhong, Naibijiang Abudouaini, Yan Zhao, Jibin Zhang, Guozhu Tan, Guifeng Miao, Xiaowu Wang, Jianqiang Liu, Ying Pan, Xiaorui Wang","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00140","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising modality for cancer treatment, but its clinical application is constrained by unexpected phototoxicity arising from nonspecific photosensitizer activation and their \"always-on\" nature. Herein, we developed a switchable nanophotosensitizer, poly(cation-π) nanoparticles (NP), which achieves supramolecular assembly through cation-π interactions. By coupling choline cationic moieties with aromatic photosensitizers (ZnPc), the polymer facilitates self-assembly driven by cation-π interactions for NP engineering. Surprisingly, the photoactivity of ZnPc was completely quenched upon complexation via cation-π interactions, thereby significantly avoiding skin phototoxicity. Upon targeting tumor cells, NP undergoes a GSH-responsive degradation process that weakens cation-π interactions, leading to spontaneous restoration of photoactivity and amplifying tumor immunogenic pyroptosis. In vivo studies demonstrated that NP achieved a high tumor inhibition rate of 84% while effectively avoiding skin phototoxicity. This work provides a novel perspective for enhancing the safety and efficacy of PDT-based tumor treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"3065-3083"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"3D-Printed Auxetic Ionic Hydrogels with Moisture Retention and High Sensitivity for Sustainable Wearable Sensing.","authors":"Lanlan Dong, Yi Ru, Xinxin Gao, Ru Jia, Jing Wang, Wurikaixi Aiyiti, Cijun Shuai","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conductive hydrogels face challenges in maintaining environmental and mechanical stability for practical sensor applications. In this study, a long-term, stable, and highly sensitive ionically conductive hydrogel was developed via a synergistic dual-humectant strategy: glycerol suppressed ice nucleation through hydrogen-bond competition, while LiCl provided dynamic water sorption. This synergy enables unprecedented stability─remaining unfrozen at -60 °C and retaining 70% moisture over 35 days at 25 °C. The hydrogel exhibits exceptional stretchability (1270% strain) and adhesion (60 kPa) through combined physical/covalent interactions. A three-dimensional (3D)-printed porous architecture enhances sensitivity, achieving a gauge factor of 32 (3 × higher than nonporous hydrogel). In particular, the auxetic-structured conductive hydrogel─when used as a wearable device─demonstrated an accurate recognition ability in detecting limb and subtle movements (including speech). These properties position the hydrogels as promising candidates for fabricating flexible wearable sensors with enhanced sensitivity and environmental sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":"26 5","pages":"3155-3166"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143951472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12Epub Date: 2025-04-21DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01814
Shenglong Liao, Shuying Zhong, Can Sun, Zhiyong Liu, Daxiang Gui, Puyou Jia, Ying Lin
{"title":"Biomass-Based Functional Composite Resins with Recyclable and Shape Memory Properties.","authors":"Shenglong Liao, Shuying Zhong, Can Sun, Zhiyong Liu, Daxiang Gui, Puyou Jia, Ying Lin","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01814","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01814","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A key challenge in developing advanced functional thermosets lies in designing molecular architectures capable of integrating different specific performances into one material to meet diverse application demands. Here, a chitosan-derived trifunctional compound containing maleimide groups was used to directly cross-link tung oil-based polymer for fabricating multifunctional composite bioresins with reversible Diels-Alder bonds. The reversible cross-linking networks within resins were featured with stress relaxation, thermal reprocessability, and recyclability. The retro D-A reaction at relatively high temperatures provided the dynamic characteristics of the resins while ensuring their dimensional stability. Moreover, chitosan enhanced the mechanical properties of the resins while forming supramolecular hydrogen bonds via its abundant amino/hydroxyl groups, realizing shape memory of the resins. Furthermore, the synergistic interaction between chitosan functional groups and hydrogen bonding also imparted proton conductivity to the resins. This work provided a molecular design paradigm that harmonizes multifunctional integration in fully biomass resins, aiming for high-value applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":"26 5","pages":"2922-2933"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143952263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12Epub Date: 2025-04-08DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00387
Lakshmi Sathi Devi, Maria Rosa Gigliobianco, Serena Gabrielli, Dimitrios Agas, Maria Giovanna Sabbieti, Maria Beatrice Morelli, Consuelo Amantini, Cristina Casadidio, Piera Di Martino, Roberta Censi
{"title":"Localized Cancer Treatment Using Thiol-Ene Hydrogels for Dual Drug Delivery.","authors":"Lakshmi Sathi Devi, Maria Rosa Gigliobianco, Serena Gabrielli, Dimitrios Agas, Maria Giovanna Sabbieti, Maria Beatrice Morelli, Consuelo Amantini, Cristina Casadidio, Piera Di Martino, Roberta Censi","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00387","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00387","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Combinatorial cancer therapy benefits from injectable hydrogels for localized, controlled drug delivery. This study presents a thiol-ene conjugated hydrogel formed by cross-linking thiol-modified hyaluronic acid (HASH) with vinyl sulfone-modified β-cyclodextrin (CDVS). Four formulations (23Gel-16, 23Gel-33, 99Gel-16, 99Gel-33) were synthesized by varying HASH molecular weight (23 or 99 kDa) and CDVS modification (16% or 33%). Rheological analysis confirmed enhanced viscoelasticity with increasing molecular weight and modification (99Gel-33 > 99Gel-16 > 23Gel-33 > 23Gel-16). The system enabled combinatorial delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and carvacrol (CRV), exhibiting tumor-responsive degradation and tunable release. DOX release accelerated under tumor-mimicking conditions (100% in 46 h vs 58.7% in PBS), while CRV showed an initial burst followed by sustained release. The hydrogel promoted mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and effectively inhibited triple-negative breast cancer cells. This injectable, tumor-responsive hydrogel system offers a promising platform for minimally invasive, personalized cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"3234-3254"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12076507/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12Epub Date: 2025-04-07DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01492
Beverly Chou, Rishad J Dalal, Kenneth J Shea
{"title":"Autonomous Abiotic Thermal Protectant for Immunoglobulin G: Reducing the Need for Cold Chain Storage.","authors":"Beverly Chou, Rishad J Dalal, Kenneth J Shea","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01492","DOIUrl":"10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibodies are vital biologic therapeutics, but their impact is limited by thermal instability. This requires maintaining a cold chain, from the point of manufacture to the point of use. We report an approach that could reduce the need for a cold chain. We present a thermal protectant (TP) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) that mimics the behavior of the heat shock protein HSP60. This hydrogel copolymer nanoparticle shows minimal affinity for IgG at or below 25 °C. As temperatures rise and approach the proteins melting temperature (<i>T</i><sub>m</sub>), the TP undergoes an autonomous phase transition (∼27 °C), above which the TP shows high affinity for IgG sequestering and stabilizing IgG at temperatures far above <i>T</i><sub>m</sub>. As temperatures return to RT, the TP reverts to its water-swollen state, allowing any metastable proteins time to refold to their native state before being released. The optimized TP has very low IgG molar capacity, effectively isolating and preventing aggregation at elevated temperatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":" ","pages":"2825-2834"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12076504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12Epub Date: 2025-04-11DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00158
Fabian Kollmann, Anne Büngeler, Miriam Splett, Oliver I Strube, Klaus Huber
{"title":"Analysis of the Growth Mechanism of Eumelanin Particles by Time-Resolved Static and Dynamic Light Scattering.","authors":"Fabian Kollmann, Anne Büngeler, Miriam Splett, Oliver I Strube, Klaus Huber","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tyrosinase-catalyzed formation of eumelanin proceeds along four successive phases. The final phase is an aggregation of smaller type-A particles to larger type-B particles with a final radius of 200 nm. It is this fourth phase that is analyzed by means of time-resolved static and dynamic light scattering and UV-vis spectroscopy, providing the following significant insight into the formation mechanism of eumelanin. Growth of type-B particles requires a critical concentration of substrate l-Dopa. During an initial period of the reaction, disintegration of type-B particles is achieved with an appropriate increase of pH, demonstrating partial reversibility of the aggregation. Correlation of the size and mass of the growing type-B particles at variable pH levels and l-Dopa concentrations reveals that depending on the pH, the mechanism shifts from nucleation, followed by monomer addition, with type-A particles acting as the monomers, to a step growth process, where any two aggregates combine to form a corresponding larger aggregate.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":"26 5","pages":"3104-3112"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143955487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12Epub Date: 2025-05-01DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00149
Pilar O'Neal, Kareem Washington, Bram Estes, Preethi L Chandran
{"title":"A Facile and Versatile Platform for Cytosolic Delivery of Proteins in Nanoshells of DNA or RNA: Packaging Options in Multiplexed Delivery.","authors":"Pilar O'Neal, Kareem Washington, Bram Estes, Preethi L Chandran","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polyethylenimine (PEI) polymers are used to compact DNA into nanoparticles for delivery into cells. We have shown that PEI-mannose polymers compact DNA into nanoshell-like particles, which can load proteins as well. Here we show that these DNA containers are uniquely versatile for scavenging proteins, irrespective of size, charge, and hydrophobicity from dilute solutions. The number of DNA containers for loading proteins can be controlled independently of the protein loading per container by changing the amounts of DNA and protein in solution. This provides control of the fraction of cells receiving the payload and the relative amounts of DNA and protein per cell. The proteins released inside cells retain enzymatic activity. The proposed technology provides a new way to approach protein delivery by hitchhiking proteins within a facile and well-established DNA-delivery mechanism and by utilizing sugar biophysics to load a wide range of proteins in a single-step process.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":"26 5","pages":"3084-3103"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143951523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Dual-Interaction Supramolecular Hydrogel System for siRNA Delivery to Enhance Endometrial Receptivity in Stem Cell Therapy.","authors":"Xiaowei Zhang, Yongping Lu, Liqun Yang, Yu Sui, Chong Zhang, Wei Zhang, Jing Guo, Keke Wang, Xiaoliang Liu, Meina Lin","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endometrial receptivity is crucial for embryo implantation success. Stem cell therapy shows promise for improving endometrial health. We developed a supramolecular hydrogel scaffold based on stereocomplexed triblock copolymers (MPEG-(sc-PLA)-PEI) and α-cyclodextrin for codelivering menstrual blood-derived endometrial stem cells (MenSCs) and siRNA targeting DNA methyl transferase 1 (DNMT1), enabling RNAi-mediated gene silencing to improve endometrial receptivity. The resulting α-CD/MPEG-(sc-PLA)-PEI hydrogels exhibited high mechanical stability, excellent self-healing capabilities, and sustained siRNA release via a dual-interaction mechanism involving host-guest interaction and stereocomplexation. <i>In vitro</i> studies indicated superior cellular uptake of DNMT1 siRNA encapsulated within MPEG-(sc-PLA)-PEI complexes, resulting in significant upregulation of endometrial receptivity markers, including HOXA10, ITGB3, and E-cadherin. <i>In vivo</i> experiments showed that DNMT1 siRNA-loaded hydrogels facilitated endometrial remodeling through therapeutic transgene expression in MenSCs. These findings suggest that this multifunctional hydrogel system may serve as an effective tool for stem cell-based therapies aimed at enhancing endometrial receptivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":"26 5","pages":"3044-3058"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143952910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00342
Ian W Hamley, Lucas R de Mello, Valeria Castelletto, Thomas Zinn, Nathan Cowieson, Jani Seitsonen, Thomas Bizien
{"title":"Semaglutide Aggregates into Oligomeric Micelles and Short Fibrils in Aqueous Solution.","authors":"Ian W Hamley, Lucas R de Mello, Valeria Castelletto, Thomas Zinn, Nathan Cowieson, Jani Seitsonen, Thomas Bizien","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00342","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Semaglutide is a lipopeptide with important applications in the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and other conditions. This class of drug (glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and other lipidated peptides) may be susceptible to aggregation due to the tendency of lipopeptides to self-assemble into various nanostructures. Here, we show using cryogenic-TEM, small-angle X-ray scattering, and molecular dynamics simulations that semaglutide in aqueous solution undergoes slow aggregation into spherical micelles in water at sufficiently high concentration. A small population of needle-shaped fibril aggregates is also observed. At a lower concentration, dimer and trimer structures are formed. The micelles, once formed, are stable toward further aging. The aggregation influences the effect of semaglutide on the permeability of an epithelial gut model membrane of Caco-2 cells. These findings are expected to be important in understanding the long-term stability of semaglutide solutions and the potential effects of aggregation on therapeutic efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143955145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BiomacromoleculesPub Date : 2025-05-12Epub Date: 2025-04-15DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00041
Yue Zhang, Liyuan Tian, Jimin Zhang, Meihui Zhong
{"title":"pH-Responsive Hyperbranched Polymer Scaffolds for Polymer and Peptide Conjugation through Molecular Recognition: Synthesis and Self-Assembly.","authors":"Yue Zhang, Liyuan Tian, Jimin Zhang, Meihui Zhong","doi":"10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hyperbranched polymers can be suitable polymeric scaffolds for the modification of functional groups and fabrication of applicable nanoparticles considering their good solubility, numerous modification sites, and unique self-assembly behaviors. To facilitate the modification process and obtain various functional hyperbranched polymers, a new inimer 2-((adamantan-1-yl)amino)-1-(4-((2-bromo-2-methylpropanoyl)oxy)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl methacrylate (ABMA) with an adamantyl group was prepared in this research through the Passerini reaction. ABMA was copolymerized with 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DPA), affording the pH-responsive hyperbranched polymer hPDPA. Model molecules poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and the peptide RRRRRRRRC (PArg) with a cell-penetrating octaarginine fragment were conjugated with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to modify the hPDPA through molecular recognition. The inclusion complex hPDPA/PEG self-assembled into micelles in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, while hPDPA/PEG/PArg self-assembled into vesicles because of the repulsion of the positively charged PArg. It was demonstrated that the DOX-loaded hPDPA/PEG/PArg could be internalized by Hela cells with high efficiency and could induce apoptosis of Hela cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":30,"journal":{"name":"Biomacromolecules","volume":"26 5","pages":"2960-2970"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143951388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}