Functionalised thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) microparticles enabled for "click" chemistry.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) microparticles offer advantages like homogeneity, tuneable properties, low cost, and ease of manufacture for tissue repair and disease treatment.
• Current limitations exist in enhancing the surface functionalization of TIPS microparticles for targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an improved method for surface functionalization of TIPS microparticles.
• To compare the efficacy of a novel click chemistry-based functionalization approach with traditional antibody physisorption for targeted delivery.

Main Methods:

• Functionalization of TIPS microparticles with small molecules and an antibody fragment (Herceptin Fab) using a pyridazinedione linker.
• Utilizing SPAAC (Scopper-free click chemistry) for efficient conjugation.
• Comparison of antigen-binding avidity with microparticles prepared via traditional antibody physisorption.

Main Results:

• Successful functionalization of TIPS microparticles with Herceptin Fab via the pyridazinedione linker and click chemistry.
• Demonstrated enhanced avidity of functionalized microparticles to HER2+ targets compared to physisorption methods.
• The novel linker approach provides superior targeted binding capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The pyridazinedione linker and SPAAC click chemistry offer a superior method for functionalizing TIPS microparticles for targeted applications.
• This enhanced functionalization strategy improves the avidity of microparticles for specific targets, such as HER2+.
• This approach holds promise for advanced injectable devices in tissue engineering and cancer therapy.