title: Extended blood circulation and joint accumulation of a p(HPMA-co-AzMA)-based nanoconjugate in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We recently synthesized a hydrophilic polymer, poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide-co-N-(3-azidopropyl)methacrylamide), p(HPMA-co-AzMA), by RAFT polymerization using a novel azide-containing methacrylamide monomer that through a post modification strategy using click chemistry enabled facile preparation of a panel of versatile and well-defined bioconjugates. In this work we screen a panel of different molecular weight (Mw) fluorescently tagged p(HPMA-co-AzMA) in healthy mice, by live bioimaging, to select an extended circulatory half-life material for investigating joint accumulation in a murine collagen antibody-induced arthritis model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluorescence image analysis revealed half-lifes of <20 min, 2.8 h and 6.4 h for p(HPMA-co-AzMA) of 15, 36 and 54 kDa, respectively, with ~10% polymer retained in the blood after 24 h for the highest Mw. p(HPMA-co-AzMA) of 54 kDa showed enhanced accumulation in the joints of the arthritic mouse model with a bioavailability (AUC = 1783% · h) ~12 times higher (P = 0.01) than healthy control (AUC = 148% · h).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p(HPMA-co-AzMA) of 54 kDa exhibited extended circulatory half-life and preferential accumulation in inflamed joints of a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This combined with well-defined polymer size and versatility for conjugation of a range of biomolecules promotes p(HPMA-co-AzMA) for potential applications in the delivery of drugs for treatment of RA.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark ; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ebbesen
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark ; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bienk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bent W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Deleuran
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark ; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Howard
keywords: Arthritis; Collagen Antibody-Induced Arthritis; Extended circulation; HPMA; Image analysis; Joint accumulation; N-(3-azidopropyl)methacrylamide); Poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide); in vivo