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Dual Enzyme‐Responsive Capsules of Hyaluronic Acid‐ block ‐Poly(Lactic Acid) for Sensing Bacterial Enzymes
Author(s) -
Tücking KatrinStephanie,
Grützner Verena,
Unger Ronald E.,
Schönherr Holger
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201500076
Subject(s) - dynamic light scattering , chemistry , nanocapsules , fluorescence microscope , lactic acid , hyaluronic acid , amphiphile , fluorescence , copolymer , polymer chemistry , biophysics , biochemistry , materials science , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , nanoparticle , bacteria , polymer , physics , quantum mechanics , biology , genetics
The synthesis of novel amphiphilic hyaluronic acid (HYA) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) block copolymers is reported as the key element of a strategy to detect the presence of pathogenic bacterial enzymes. In addition to the formation of defined HYA‐ block ‐PLA assemblies, the encapsulation of fluorescent reporter dyes and the selective enzymatic degradation of the capsules by hyaluronidase and proteinase K are studied. The synthesis of the dual enzyme‐responsive HYA‐ b ‐PLA is carried out by copper–catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. The resulting copolymers are assembled in water to form vesicular structures, which are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). DLS measurements show that both enzymes cause a rapid decrease in the hydrodynamic diameter of the nanocapsules. Fluorescence spectroscopy data confirm the liberation of encapsulated dye, which indicates the disintegration of the capsules and validates the concept of enzymatically triggered payload release. Finally, cytotoxicity assays confirm that the HYA‐ b‐ PLA nanocapsules are biocompatible with primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.