The rapid recognition of intravenously injected colloidal carriers, such as liposomes and polymeric nanospheres from the blood by Kupffer cells, has initiated a surge of development for "Kupffer cell-evading" or long-circulating particles. Such carriers have applications in vascular drug delivery and release, site-specific targeting (passive as well as active targeting), as well as transfusion medicine. In this article we have critically reviewed and assessed the rational approaches in the design as well as the biological performance of such constructs. For engineering and design of long-circulating carriers, we have taken a lead from nature. Here, we have explored the surface mechanisms, which affords red blood cells long-circulatory lives and the ability of specific microorganisms to evade macrophage recognition. Our analysis is then centered where such strategies have been translated and fabricated to design a wide range of particulate carriers (e.g., nanospheres, liposomes, micelles, oil-in-water emulsions) with prolonged circulation and/or target specificity. With regard to the targeting issues, attention is particularly focused on the importance of physiological barriers and disease states.

Long-Circulating and Target-Specific Nanoparticles: Theory to Practice

Occurrence, metabolism, metabolic role, and industrial uses of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Polymer blends and composites from renewable resources

Synthesis, structure and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates: biological polyesters

Poly(lactic acid) modifications

Tous les copolymeres etudies sont instables a l'etat fondu au dessus de 170°C, quelle que soit leur composition; leur masse moleculaire diminue rapidement avec une cinetique qui suit le modele de rupture de chaine aleatoire aux groupes esters. Les resultats suggerent que les copolyesters dont le point de fusion est inferieur a 160°C peuvent etre utilises en moulage par injection

Thermal degradation of microbial copolyesters: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)

Crystalline and thermal properties of bacterial copolyesters: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)

Copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) have been produced by Alcaligenes eutrophus in nitrogenfree culture solutions of butyric and pentanoic acids. When pentanoic acid was used as the sole carbon source, a copolyester with an unusually high 3HV fraction of 90 mol% was produced. Copolyesters with a wide range of compositions (0–90 mol% 3HV) were obtained by using butyric and pentanoic acids together as carbon sources. The biosynthetic pathways of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) were investigated using [1-13C]acetate and [1-13C]butyrate. It is suggested that butyric and pentanoic acids are incorporated into the copolyester as 3HB and 3HV units respectively without decomposition of the carbon skeletons in the cell.

Production of copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate by Alcaligenes eutrophus from butyric and pentanoic acids

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) and a copolyester of β-hydroxybutyrate and β-hydroxyvalerate isolated from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

Masao Kunioka

Papers

Thermal degradation of microbial copolyesters: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)

Crystalline and thermal properties of bacterial copolyesters: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)

Production of copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate by Alcaligenes eutrophus from butyric and pentanoic acids

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) and a copolyester of β-hydroxybutyrate and β-hydroxyvalerate isolated from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on unusual bacterial copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate