Browsing by Author "Alagu Oviya"

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Poly(N-acryloylglycine-acrylamide) Hydrogel Mimics the Cellular Microenvironment and Promotes Neurite Growth with Protection from Oxidative Stress
(American Chemical Society, 2023) Kirti Wasnik; Prem Shankar Gupta; Sudip Mukherjee; Alagu Oviya; Ravi Prakash; Divya Pareek; Sukanya Patra; Somedutta Maity; Vipin Rai; Monika Singh; Gurmeet Singh; Desh Deepak Yadav; Santanu Das; Pralay Maiti; Pradip Paik
In this work, the glycine-based acryloyl monomer is polymerized to obtain a neurogenic polymeric hydrogel for regenerative applications. The synthesized poly(N-acryloylglycine-acrylamide) [poly(NAG-b-A)] nanohydrogel exhibits high swelling (∼1500%) and is mechanically very stable, biocompatible, and proliferative in nature. The poly(NAG-b-A) nanohydrogel provides a stable 3D extracellular mimetic environment and promotes healthy neurite growth for primary cortical neurons by facilitating cellular adhesion, proliferation, actin filament stabilization, and neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, the protective role of the poly(NAG-b-A) hydrogel for the neurons in oxidative stress conditions is revealed and it is found that it is a clinically relevant material for neuronal regenerative applications, such as for promoting nerve regeneration via GSK3β inhibition. This hydrogel additionally plays an important role in modulating the biological microenvironment, either as an agonist and antagonist or as an antioxidant. Furthermore, it favors the physiological responses and eases the neurite growth efficiency. Additionally, we found out that the conversion of glycine-based acryloyl monomers into their corresponding polymer modulates the mechanical performance, mimics the cellular microenvironment, and accelerates the self-healing capability due to the responsive behavior towards reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, the p(NAG-b-A) hydrogel could be a potential candidate to induce neuronal regeneration since it provides a physical cue and significantly boosts neurite outgrowth and also maintains the microtubule integrity in neuronal cells. © 2023 American Chemical Society.
Poly[(N-acryloyl glycine)-co-(acrylamide)]-induced cell growth inhibition in heparanase-driven malignancies
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025) Kirti Wasnik; Gurmeet Singh; Desh Deepak Yadav; Sukanya Patra; Prem Shankar Gupta; Alagu Oviya; Sandeep Kumar; Divya Pareek; Pradip Paik
In the present work, glycine, the monomer N-acryloylglycine (NAG), and polymeric units of poly[(N-acryloylglycine)-co-(acrylamide)] p(NAG-co-Ac) are examined using density functional theory (DFT), and experimental evidence is provided for their use in the therapy of cancer with a poor prognosis. Glycine plays a pivotal role in cell survival, and most anti-cancer agents alter glycine metabolomics and suppress cancer cell proliferation. Herein, we have utilized Frontier Molecular Orbital theory (FMO), and the results revealed that the introduction of acrylamide/divinyl benzene into the glycine-based polymer increased its biological activity by lowering the energy band gap. Heparanase and proteases are important in invasive tumor progression and worsening of prognosis. In this context, we have synthesized co-polymeric p(NAG-co-Ac) and revealed its protease inhibitory activities. It is revealed that the cross-linked homo-polymeric and cross-linked hetero-polymeric tetrameric arrangements inhibit heparanase activity via interacting at heparanase binding domain II (HBDII) with a docking score of ∼−11.08 kcal mol−1 (Ki) and at heparanase binding domain III (HBD III). The bathochromically shifted CD spectrum shows that the hydrogel interacts with heparanase and disturbs the secondary protein structure of the synthesized p(NAG-co-Ac) polymer. It is found that the synthesized p(NAG-co-Ac) hydrogel has anti-proliferative activity, acts as a migratory inhibitor of cancer cells, and favors programmed cell death. Further, the p(NAG-co-Ac) hydrogel exhibited anti-angiogenic behavior. In conclusion, p(NAG-co-Ac), with its anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic capabilities, has a future as a potential anticancer polymer for the treatment of heparanase-driven invasive malignancies without using any additional anticancer drugs, and is promising for cancer treatment. © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.