Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a covalently crosslinked hydrogel comprising the strain-promoted reaction product of an 8-member cycloalkyne functionalized polyalkylene glycol and a multi-arm glycerol exytholate triazide and methods for making them. Because the precursor materials can be manipulated without causing crosslinking, provided the strain threshold is not reached, these hydrogels permit mechanical control over when (and where) cross linking occurs and are easier to use than prior strain-activated or temperature-activated systems. These novel hydrogels do not require a catalyst to cross link, thus avoiding the biocompatibility problems common to many catalysts. Nor is the crosslinking process affected by the presence of catalysts or other substances, which have interfered with crosslinking in known strain induced hydrogels. Because of their crosslinking reaction kinetics, these novel hydrogels can encapsulate and transport highly sensitive cells and other biological additives and have no known toxic byproducts.
Abstract:
Embodiments relate to amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s with amino acid residues selected L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine or combinations thereof. The amino acid-based poly(ester urea)S may optionally include a second amino acid residue selected from proteinogenic amino acids and non-proteinogenic amino acids. The amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s are particular useful for the preparation of vascular grafts. Due to the biocompatibility of the amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s, vascular grafts prepared from amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s with small internal diameters (i.e. less than 5 mm) may be prepared and inserted into a patient or animal, and provide a substantial decrease in the risk of failure compared to conventional polymers used in vascular grafts.
Abstract:
Amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s (PEU) are emerging as a class of polymers that have shown promise in regenerative medicine applications. Embodiments of the invention relate to the synthesis of PEUs carrying pendent “clickable” groups on modified tyrosine amino acids. The pendent species include alkyne, azide, alkene, tyrosine-phenol, and ketone groups. PEUs with Mw exceeding 100k Da were obtained via interfacial polycondensation methods and the concentration of pendent groups was varied by copolymerization. The incorporation of derivatizable functionalities is demonstrated using 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy methods. Electrospinning was used to fabricate PEU nanofibers with a diameters ranging from 350 nm to 500 nm. The nanofiber matricies possess mechanical strengths suitable for tissue engineering (Young's modulus: 300±45 MPa; tensile stress: 8.5±1.2 MPa). A series of bioactive peptides and fluorescent molecules were conjugated to the surface of the nanofibers following electrospinning using bio-orthogonal reactions in aqueous media.
Abstract:
In various aspects, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a series of multivalent dendrons containing a bioactive peptide domain and surface-binding catechol domains. In some embodiments, these multivalent dendrons were obtained through solid phase synthesis and have a strong binding affinity to metal oxide surfaces such as, TiO2, ZrO2, CeO2, and Fe3O4, SiO2, as well as other inorganic surfaces such as hydroxyapatite, silver, fluorapatite, calcium carbonate and gold. These catechol-bearing dendrons provide a fast and efficient method to functionalize a wide range of inorganic materials with bioactive peptides and have the potential to be used in coating orthopaedic implants and fixation devices.
Abstract:
In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides iodine-functionalized phenylalanine-based poly(ester urea)s (PEUs) (and related methods for their synthesis and use) that are metal free, degradable, radiopaque and suitable for use in surgical implants and other medical devices used within a patient. In one or more embodiment of the present invention 4-Iodo-L-phenylalanine and L-phenylalanine are separately reacted with 1,6-hexanediol to produce two monomers, bis-4-I-L-phenylalanine-1,6-hexanediol-diester (1-IPHE-6 monomer) and bis-L-phenylalanine-1,6-hexanediol-diester (1-PHE-6 monomer). It has been found that by varying the feed ratio of the 1-IPHE-6 and 1-PHE-6 monomers, the copolymer composition may be modulated to predictably create phenylalanine-based PEUs having a wide variation in thermal, mechanical and radiopacity properties. As most medical device procedures require placement verification via fluoroscopic imaging, materials that possess inherent X-ray contrast are valuable for a number of applications.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a low molecular mass PPF polymer (and related methods) that is suitable for 3D printing and other polymer device fabrication modalities and can be made inexpensively in commercially reasonable quantities. These novel low molecular mass PPF polymers have a low molecular mass distribution (Đm) and a wide variety of potential uses, particularly as a component in resins for 3D printing of medical devices. The ability to produce low Đm PPF creates a new opportunity for reliable GMP production of PPF. It provides low cost synthesis and scalability of synthesis, blending of well-defined mass and viscosity PPF, and reduced reliance on solvents or heat to (a) achieve mixing of 3D printable resins or (b) and flowability during 3D printing. These PPF polymers are non-toxic, degradable, and resorbable and can be used in tissue scaffolds and medical devices that are implanted within a living organism.
Abstract:
The present invention is generally directed a series of novel multivalent, HA-binding peptide bioconjugates with variable dendron valency and tether length, which afford the ability to precisely tune the desired binding behavior, as well as related methods and uses. Certain of these novel multivalent, HA-binding peptide bioconjugates have been found to have a 300-fold increase in binding affinity compared to HA-binding peptide sequences reported previously.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a novel group of amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s (PEUs) for use in biodegradable adhesive and related methods for their making and use. These novel amino acid-based PEUs have a wide variation in mechanical properties and degradation behavior that can be tuned by varying the amino acids and polyols used to form the polyester monomers that form the PEUs. Importantly, these novel PEUs have been shown to be non-toxic in vitro and in vivo and may be suitable to a wide variety of biomedical and other uses. In some embodiments, the adhesive properties of these degradable amino acid-based poly(ester urea) adhesives has been further improved by the incorporation of controlled amounts of catechol functional groups into the side chains of the PEU via post-polymerization functionalization chemistry.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a covalently crosslinked hydrogel comprising the strain-promoted reaction product of an 8-member cycloalkyne functionalized polyalkylene glycol and a multi-arm glycerol exytholate triazide and methods for making them. Because the precursor materials can be manipulated without causing crosslinking, provided the strain threshold is not reached, these hydrogels permit mechanical control over when (and where) cross linking occurs and are easier to use than prior strain-activated or temperature-activated systems. These novel hydrogels do not require a catalyst to cross link, thus avoiding the biocompatibility problems common to many catalysts. Nor is the crosslinking process affected by the presence of catalysts or other substances, which have interfered with crosslinking in known strain induced hydrogels. Because of their crosslinking reaction kinetics, these novel hydrogels can encapsulate and transport highly sensitive cells and other biological additives and have no known toxic byproducts.