John Garner

PLGA from PolySciTech used in delivery system for dexamethasone for treatment of vocal cord damage
Damage and scarring to the vocal cord tissue can come from diseases, such as local infections or cancer, as well as trauma due to intubation or neck/throat injuries. This leads to speech problems and other issues depending on severity. Researchers at University of Cincinatti used PLGA (AP063) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) as part of a dexamethasone delivery system. This research holds promise to improve tissue repair options in the future. Read more: Zheng, Avery, Nour Awad, Denzel Ryan D. Cruz, Ruchika Pissay, Charles Farbos de Luzan, Gregory Dion, and Yoonjee Park. "Controlled-Release of Dexamethasone via Light-Activated Implant for Potential Vocal Fold Scar Treatment." ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (2025). pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c022…

This study investigates a novel light-activated implant system designed for injectable, dose-controlled, sustained drug delivery. The light-activated implant was developed by incorporating light-activated drug-releasing liposomes into a biodegradable polymeric capsule. The drug release kinetics from the implant at 0, 1, and 2 min of light activation were determined in vitro using a tissue mimic with varying depths. A pulsed near-infrared laser at 1064 nm, connected to an optical fiber, was used as the light source. The dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) release was tunable depending on the laser irradiation time, with an approximately 4% reduction in release as tissue depth increased by 2 mm. The implant was injected using a needle into ex vivo porcine vocal folds, and drug release kinetics were quantified by real-time fluorescence imaging. Mathematical models were also developed to understand diffusion mechanisms of the light-activated, controlled drug release profiles from the cylindrical implant. Finally, in vivo evaluations in a healthy rabbit vocal fold model confirmed comparable drug release through light activation. Histological assessments demonstrated the safety of the drug delivery system and the structural integrity of the implant within biological tissues after 6 weeks of implantation. These results support the potential clinical application of the drug delivery system, offering a promising solution for conditions requiring precise, controlled therapeutic delivery. Future work will focus on scaling the technology for clinical trials, including construct and tissue reactions in human tissue, to enhance treatment efficacy for various medical conditions.
PLGA (Cat# AP063): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

John Garner

mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in the development of nanoparticles to cross the blood-brain-barrier for treatment of Lou Gehrig's disease
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) affects the nervous system leading to loss of muscle control. Researchers at University of Porto and University of Santiago de Compostela used mPEG-PLGA (AK106) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop nanoparticles to transport edaravone across the blood brain barrier. This research holds promise to improve therapeutic options against Lou Gehrig’s disease in the future. Read more: Aguiar, Brandon, Ana Rita Alfenim, Cláudia Sofia Machado, Joana Moreira, Miguel Pinto, Francisco J. Otero-Espinar, Fernanda Borges, and Carlos Fernandes. "Exploring Nano-Delivery Systems to Enhance the Edaravone Performance in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 5 (2025): 2146. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11900301/
“Edaravone is one of the treatment options for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, but its therapeutic efficacy is limited due to the incapacity to cross the blood–brain barrier, as well as its short life span and poor stability, which is ultimately caused by its tautomerism in physiological condions. This work presents an overview about the use of several nanoformulations based on polymeric, protein, lipidic, or hybrid structure as suitable and stable drug delivery systems for encapsulating edaravone. We also evaluated the functionalization of nanoparticles with pegylated chains using the polyethylene glycol or tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate and the possibility of preparing polymeric nanoparticles at different pH (7.4, 9, and 11). Edaravone was sucessfully encapsulated in polymeric, lipid–polymer hybrid, and lipidic nanoparticles. The use of higher pH values in the synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles has led to a decrease in nanoparticle size and an increase in the percentage of encapsulation efficiency. However, the resulting nanoformulations are not stable. Only polymeric and hybrid nanoparticles showed good stability over 80 days of storage, mainly at 4 °C. Overall, the nanoformulations tested did not show cytotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y cell line except the nanostructured lipid carrier formulations that showed some cytotoxicity possibly due to lipidic peroxidation. In conclusion, this work shows that edaravone can be encapsulated in different nanocarriers that could act as an interesting alternative for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Keywords: edaravone, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hybrid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers”
PLGA (Cat# AK106): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

John Garner

PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of Ocular delivery system
There are a variety of diseases that affect the back of the eye which can lead to blindness in affected individuals. Researchers at University of North Texas and The University of Texas at Austin used PLGA (AP040) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop an ocular delivery system to release a novel compound that reduces ocular disease. This research holds promise to provide for treatments against blindness. Read more: Garrett, Meredith, Stacy Curry, Sherri Feris, Yan Lu, Qi Gu, Abe Clark, Stephen F. Martin, and Michail Kastellorizios. "Delivery of a novel neuroprotective compound to the retina in rat and rabbit animal models." Journal of Controlled Release (2025): 113659. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365…
“Posterior segment-related diseases are among the leading causes of irreversible blindness and loss of vision globally. These diseases are extremely difficult to treat due to the drug delivery barriers posed by the eye, among other challenges. One delivery method that bypasses many of these obstacles, albeit not without risk, is ocular injections, and long-acting formulations such as implants can improve patient compliance by allowing for longer intervals between injections. Here, we report our development of a preclinical in situ-forming implant dosage form that provides sustained release of a novel compound, DKR-1677, with a target in the retina. An in situ-forming implant based on polylactic co glycolic acid (PLGA) was chosen in this preclinical stage because it is readily translatable to a preformed implant product. The formulations were tested in vitro, in rat and rabbit animal models for drug release and pharmacokinetics. A two-step in vitro dissolution method with implant formation in a biorelevant gel followed by incubation in release media showed a 30-day three-phase release profile with an initial burst release of 36.04 ± 4.23 %, a plateau, and a controlled release up to 93.75 ± 4.68 % at day 30, typical of PLGA-based implant formulations. Immediate and controlled-release formulations were tested in rat and rabbit animal models and confirmed that DKR-1677 is taken up by the retina after intravitreal administration. Furthermore, the in situ-forming implant was found to prolong drug presence in the retina to 30 days following a single administration, confirming that a PLGA-based implant is a viable approach for this drug candidate.”
PCL (Cat# AP040): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

John Garner

Polycaprolactone from PolySciTech used in development of Cell scaffold.
Vascular grafts are a way to regrow damaged blood vessels. Researchers at University of Colorado used PCL (AP257) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop scaffolds for graft repair. This research holds promise to improve healing of damaged tissues. Read more: Battistella, Aurora, Morgan Linger, Richard D. Johnson, Anna Sallee, Rajan Jain, Bridget Antreasian, Yifu Ding, and Wei Tan. "Fabrication of Polymer Blend Vascular Grafts with Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Rapid Cell Infiltration: Influence of Micro/Nanostructure, Polymer Composition, and Post-Processing on Pore Architecture And Bioengineered Environment." Nanostructure, Polymer Composition, and Post-Processing on Pore Architecture And Bioengineered Environment. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=517910…
“Abstract: Vascular grafts are often used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Desired properties of next-generation graft materials include artery-like mechanics, clinically feasible manufacturing processes, and a bioactive interface that facilitates rapid and deep infiltration of neighboring cells to support tissue regeneration. These requirements inspired the design, fabrication, and post-processing of our graft materials. In terms of material design, we evaluated the performance of three microfiber graft materials composed of a hydrophobic polymer and photo-clickable, 4-arm thiolated polyethylene glycol-norbornene (PEG-NB). The materials included two coaxially nanostructured fiber designs, each featuring a PEG-NB sheath and different cores—polycaprolactone (PCL) and polycaprolactone-co-lactic acid (PLCL), respectively—and a mixed composition created by directly blending the sheath and core solutions during electrospinning. For post-processing, the constructs were either air-dried or freeze-dried. Surface morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy, while mechanical properties were characterized through tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis. Subcutaneous implants were evaluated at 1, 4, and 16 weeks using histological, immunofluorescent, and multiphoton microscopy analyses to examine cellular distribution, material structure, and tissue remodeling. Results showed that the freeze-drying post-processing method enhanced overall porosity, stiffness, and ultimate tensile strength. Among all tested conditions, the freeze-dried core-sheath structure with PCL most closely matched the mechanical properties of native vessels. Using PLCL as a core material increased degradation and cell infiltration during the first month of subcutaneous studies. Ultimately, graft strength, porosity, and bioactivity were effectively modulated by the choice of core material and post-processing method. The distinct strengths of PCL and PLCL as a core polymer suggest that combining these materials could potentially optimize material degradation, cell infiltration and tissue remodeling along with mechanical performance.”
PCL (Cat# AP257): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

John Garner

mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech Used in Development of anti-TNF-alpha therapy for Crohn’s disease treatment.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by over immune response. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used PEG-PLGA (AK106) ) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop nanoparticles which deliver monoclonal antibodies for anti-TNF-alpha which reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and signals the body to take a less aggressive immune response. This research holds promise to improve treatment of IBS. Read more: Zhang, Yicheng, Ling Li, Jiayuan Kong, Yuanmuhuang Long, Xiaoya Lu, Christopher J. Erb, Yurun Miao et al. "Long-acting injectable nanoparticle formulation for sustained release of anti-TNF-α antibody therapeutic in ulcerative colitis treatment." Journal of Controlled Release 380 (2025): 1005-1016. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365…
“Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, remitting, and relapsing conditions of the gastrointestinal tract with incompletely elucidated etiology. The anti-TNF-α mAbs represent one of aflash nanocomplexation and flash nanoprecipitation process, resulting in particles with a narrow size distribution and tunable release profile, with the longest in vitro release lasting over four months. These mAb-releasing NPs are then incorporated into hyaluronic acid hydrogel microparticles (MPs) to enhance tissue retention, thus extending the duration of mAb release in vivo. A single i.m. injection of the LAI can maintain the serum mAb level above the therapeutically effective concentration for over 100 days in healthy mice. In a 9-week study using a dextran sulfate-induced chronic colitis model, the anti-TNF-α LAI formulation demonstrates substantial therapeutic efficacy and a better safety profile than free mAb injections. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of this LAI system in maintaining a persistent serum mAb level and its potential as a versatile, safer, and effective delivery system for antibody therapeutics.”
mPEG-PLGA (Cat# AK106): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

John Garner

PLGA-PEG-NH2 from PolySciTech used in research on protein corona on nanoparticle transport
In the human body nanoparticles naturally adsorb proteins and this affects the transport of the particles inside the human body. Researchers at University of Technology Sydney, University of Adelaide, and The University of Melbourne used PLGA-PEG-NH2 (cat# AI169) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to analyze the effects of protein formation on nanoparticle transport. This research can improve drug delivery approaches in the future. Read more: Rennie, Claire, Nabila Morshed, Matthew Faria, Lyndsey Collins-Praino, and Andrew Care. "Nanoparticle Association with Brain Cells Is Augmented by Protein Coronas Formed in Cerebrospinal Fluid." Molecular Pharmaceutics (2025). pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.4c0…
“Neuronanomedicine harnesses nanoparticle technology for the treatment of neurological disorders. An unavoidable consequence of nanoparticle delivery to biological systems is the formation of a protein corona on the nanoparticle surface. Despite the well-established influence of the protein corona on nanoparticle behavior and fate, as well as FDA approval of neuro-targeted nanotherapeutics, the effect of a physiologically relevant protein corona on nanoparticle-brain cell interactions is insufficiently explored. Indeed, less than 1% of protein corona studies have investigated protein coronas formed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid surrounding the brain. Herein, we utilize two clinically relevant polymeric nanoparticles (PLGA and PLGA-PEG) to evaluate the formation of serum and CSF protein coronas. LC–MS analysis revealed distinct protein compositions, with selective enrichment/depletion profiles. Enhanced association of CSF precoated particles with brain cells demonstrates the importance of selecting physiologically relevant biological fluids to more accurately study protein corona formation and subsequent nanoparticle-cell interactions, paving the way for improved nanoparticle engineering for in vivo applications.”
PLGA-PEG-NH2 (Cat# AI169): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Akina, Inc. launches new GMP manufacturing service available to outside customers www.akinainc.com/midwestgmp/
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

John Garner

PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of particle based delivery system for glaucoma therapy.
Glaucoma is a degenerative ocular disease related to increased ocular pressure. Researchers at University of North Texas used PLGA (cat# AP082) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop particles loaded with novel drug compounds and tested these for use in reducing ocular pressure. This research holds promise to improve therapy against glaucoma. Read more: Amankwa, Charles E., Biddut DebNath, Jennifer H. Pham, Gretchen A. Johnson, Wei Zhang, Amalendu Ranjan, Dorota L. Stankowska, and Suchismita Acharya. "Optimized PLGA Encapsulated SA-2 Nanosuspension Exhibits Sustained Intraocular Pressure Reduction in the Mouse Microbead Occlusion Model of Ocular Hypertension." European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2025): 107016. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928098…
“Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is implicated in the structural and functional damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Topical IOP lowering agents provide short-term relief, necessitating frequent dosing. Moreover, non-adherence to frequent eyedrops administration contributes significantly to visual field loss and worsens the disease outcome. We optimized the poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulation of hybrid antioxidant-nitric oxide donor SA-2 (SA-2NP), investigated its bioavailability, duration of IOP lowering efficacy, and effects on retinal function in the microbead model of ocular hypertension (OHT). SA-2 was bioavailable in the anterior and posterior segments after 1, 8, and 24 h post-single topical eyedrop administration. SA-2NP significantly lowered IOP (∼25-34%) and preserved the RGC function after weekly eyedrop administration for 3 weeks in C57BL/6J mice. In conclusion, the optimized SA-2NP formulation demonstrated the desired bioavailability, ocular safety, and prolonged IOP-lowering efficacy in the mouse microbead occlusion model of OHT. SA-2 is a small hybrid molecule with both nitric-oxide donating (in blue) and superoxide dismutase mimetic (in red) activities. Compound SA-2 improves mitochondrial respiration in human trabecular meshwork cells and neuroprotective retinal ganglion cells. Here, we report that an optimized SA-2 loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle formulation, when instilled as an eye drop, improved the delivery and bioavailability of SA-2 in the mouse eye. Topical administration of SA-2NPs eye drops was efficacious in lowering intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in a rodent microbead occlusion model of ocular hypertension with ∼6 days of sustained IOP lowering (25-32%) after a single dose. Keywords: PLGA nanoparticles SA-2 intraocular pressure primary open-angle glaucoma bioavailability retinal protection sustained release”
PLGA (Cat# AP082): akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.p…
Corbion Purasorb® Polymers: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/
Ashland-TM Polymer Products: akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/

2 months ago | [YT] | 0