Biodegradable photo-crosslinked poly(ether-ester) networks for lubricious coatings

Polyacrylamide-based hydrogel coatings improve biocompatibility of implanted pump devices

The introduction of transcutaneous and subcutaneous implants and devices into the human body instigates fouling and foreign body responses (FBRs) that limit their functional lifetimes. Polymer coatings are a promising solution to improve the biocompatibility of such implants, with potential to enhance in vivo device performance and prolong device lifetime. Here we sought to develop novel materials for use as coatings on subcutaneously implanted devices to reduce the FBR and local tissue inflammation in comparison to gold standard materials such as poly(ethylene glycol) and polyzwitterions. We prepared a library of polyacrylamide-based copolymer hydrogels, which were selected from materials previously shown to exhibit remarkable antifouling properties with blood and plasma, and implanted them into the subcutaneous space of mice to evaluate their biocompatibility over the course of 1 month. The top performing polyacrylamide-based copolymer hydrogel material, comprising a 50:50 mixture of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)acrylamide (HEAm) and N-(3-methoxypropyl)acrylamide (MPAm), exhibited significantly better biocompatibility and lower tissue inflammation than gold standard materials. Moreover, when applied to polydimethylsiloxane disks or silicon catheters as a thin coating (45 ± 1 μm), this leading copolymer hydrogel coating significantly improved implant biocompatibility. Using a rat model of insulin-deficient diabetes, we showed that insulin pumps fitted with HEAm-co-MPAm hydrogel-coated insulin infusion catheters exhibited improved biocompatibility and extended functional lifetime over pumps fitted with industry standard catheters. These polyacrylamide-based copolymer hydrogel coatings have the potential to improve device function and lifetime, thereby reducing the burden of disease management for people regularly using implanted devices.

A long-lasting guided bone regeneration membrane from sequentially functionalised photoactive atelocollagen

The fast degradation of collagen-based membranes in the biological environment remains a critical challenge, resulting in underperforming Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) therapy leading to compromised clinical results. Photoactive atelocollagen (AC) systems functionalised with ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (4VBC), have been shown to generate mechanically competent materials for wound healing, inflammation control and drug delivery, whereby control of the molecular architecture of the AC network is key. Building on this platform, the sequential functionalisation with 4VBC and methacrylic anhydride (MA) was hypothesised to generate UV-cured AC hydrogels with reduced swelling ratio, increased proteolytic stability and barrier functionality for GBR therapy. The sequentially functionalised atelocollagen precursor (SAP) was characterised via TNBS and ninhydrin colourimetric assays, circular dichroism and UV-curing rheometry, which confirmed nearly complete consumption of collagen's primary amino groups, preserved triple helices and fast (< 180 s) gelation kinetics, respectively. Hydrogel's swelling ratio and compression modulus were adjusted depending on the aqueous environment used for UV-curing, whilst the sequential functionalisation of AC successfully generated hydrogels with superior proteolytic stability in vitro compared to both 4VBC-functionalised control and the commercial dental membrane Bio-Gide®. These in vitro results were confirmed in vivo via both subcutaneous implantation and a proof-of-concept study in a GBR calvarial model, indicating integrity of the hydrogel and barrier defect, as well as tissue formation following 1-month implantation in rats. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Collagen-based membranes remain a key component in Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) therapy, but their properties, e.g. proteolytic stability and soft tissue barrier functionality, are still far from optimal. This is largely attributed to the complex molecular configuration of collagen, which makes chemical accessibility and structure-function relations challenging. Here, we fabricated a UV-cured hydrogel network of atelocollagen, whereby triple helices were sequentially functionalised with two distinct ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The effects of the sequential functionalisation and UV-curing on the macroscopic properties, degradation behaviour and GBR capability were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results highlight the key role of the sequential functionalisation and provide important insights for the design of future, longer-lasting resorbable membranes for GBR therapy.

Lipid-Bilayer Assemblies on Polymer-Bearing Surfaces: The Nature of the Slip Plane in Asymmetric Boundary Lubrication

Phospholipid-macromolecule complexes have been proposed to form highly efficient, lubricating boundary layers at artificial soft surfaces or at biological surfaces such as articular cartilage, where the friction reduction is attributed to the hydration lubrication mechanism acting at the exposed, hydrated head groups of the lipids. Here we measure, using a surface force balance, the normal and frictional interactions between model mica substrates across several different configurations of phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid aggregates and adsorbed polymer (PEO) layers, to provide insight into the nature of such lubricating boundary layers in both symmetric and especially asymmetric configurations. Our results reveal that, irrespective of the configuration, the slip plane between the sliding surfaces reverts wherever possible to a bilayer-bilayer interface where hydration lubrication reduces the friction strongly. Where such an interface is not available, the sliding friction remains high. These findings may account for the low friction observed between both biological and synthetic hydrogel surfaces which may be asymmetrically coated with lipid-based boundary layers and fully support the hydration lubrication mechanism attributed to act at such boundary layers.

A New Green Catalyst for Synthesis of bis-Macromonomers of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

A new method to synthesise polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDM) with various molecular weights (1000, 3000, 6000 and 8000 g/mol) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been developed. This technique consists in using Maghnite-H+ as eco-catalyst to replace еriethylamine, which is toxic. Maghnite-H+ is a proton exchanged montmorillonite clay which is prepared through a simple exchange process. Synthesis experiments are performed in solution using dichloromethane as solvent in the presence of methacrylic anhydride. The effect of reaction time, temperature, amount of catalyst and amount of methacrylic anhydride is studied in order to find the optimal reaction conditions. The synthesis in solution leads to the best yield (98 %) at room temperature for the reaction time of 5 h. The structure of the obtained macromonomers (PEGDM) is confirmed by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR, where the methacrylate end groups are clearly visible. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is used to study the thermal stability of these obtained macromonomers. The presence of unsaturated end group was confirmed by UV-Visible analysis.

Crosslinking of Polylactide by High Energy Irradiation and Photo-Curing

Polylactide (PLA) is presently the most studied bioderived polymer because, in addition to its established position as a material for biomedical applications, it can replace mass production plastics from petroleum. However, some drawbacks of polylactide such as insufficient mechanical properties at a higher temperature and poor shape stability have to be overcome. One of the methods of mechanical and thermal properties modification is crosslinking which can be achieved by different approaches, both at the stage of PLA-based materials synthesis and by physical modification of neat polylactide. This review covers PLA crosslinking by applying different types of irradiation, i.e., high energy electron beam or gamma irradiation and UV light which enables curing at mild conditions. In the last section, selected examples of biomedical applications as well as applications for packaging and daily-use items are presented in order to visualize how a variety of materials can be obtained using specific methods.

Water-Soluble Photoinitiators in Biomedical Applications

Light-initiated polymerization processes are currently an important tool in various industrial fields. The advancement of technology has resulted in the use of photopolymerization in various biomedical applications, such as the production of 3D hydrogel structures, the encapsulation of cells, and in drug delivery systems. The use of photopolymerization processes requires an appropriate initiating system that, in biomedical applications, must meet additional criteria such as high water solubility, non-toxicity to cells, and compatibility with visible low-power light sources. This article is a literature review on those compounds that act as photoinitiators of photopolymerization processes in biomedical applications. The division of initiators according to the method of photoinitiation was described and the related mechanisms were discussed. Examples from each group of photoinitiators are presented, and their benefits, limitations, and applications are outlined.

MARTINI-based simulation method for step-growth polymerization and its analysis by size exclusion characterization: a case study of cross-linked polyurethane

Simulation studies of step-growth polymerization, e.g., polymerization of polyurethane systems, hold great promise due to having complete control over the reaction conditions and being able to perform an in-depth analysis of network structures. In this work, we developed a (completely automated) simulation method based on a coarse-grained (CG) methodology, i.e., the MARTINI model, to study the cross-linking reaction of a diol, a tri-isocyanate molecule and one-hydroxyl functional molecule to form a polyurethane network without and with dangling chains. This method is capable of simulating the cross-linking reactions not only up to very high conversions, but also under rather complicated reaction conditions, i.e., a non-stoichiometric ratio of the reactants, solvent evaporation and multi-step addition of the reactants. We introduced a novel network analysis, similar to size-exclusion chromatography based on graph theory, to study the growth of the network during the polymerization process. By combining the reaction simulations with these analysis methods, a set of correlations between the reaction conditions, reaction mechanisms and final network structure and properties is revealed. For instance, a two-step addition of materials for the reaction, i.e., first the dangling chain to the tri-isocyanate and then the diol, leads to the highest integrated network structure. We observed that different reaction conditions lead to different glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the network due to the distinct differences in the final network structures obtained. For example, by addition of dangling chains to the network, the T_g decreases as compared to the network without dangling chains, as also is commonly observed experimentally.

Synthesis of Electroneutralized Amphiphilic Copolymers with Peptide Dendrons for Intramuscular Gene Delivery

Intramuscular gene delivery materials are of great importance in plasmid-based gene therapy system, but there is limited information so far on how to design and synthesize them. A previous study showed that the peptide dendron-based triblock copolymer with its components arranged in a reversed biomembrane architecture could significantly increase intramuscular gene delivery and expression. Herein, we wonder whether copolymers with biomembrane-mimicking arrangement may have similar function on intramuscular gene delivery. Meanwhile, it is of great significance to uncover the influence of electric charge and molecular structure on the function of the copolymers. To address the issues, amphiphilic triblock copolymers arranged in hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic structure were constructed despite the paradoxical characteristics and difficulties in synthesizing such hydrophilic but electroneutral molecules. The as-prepared two copolymers, dendronG2(l-lysine-OH)-poly propylene glycol2k(PPG2k)-dendronG2(l-lysine-OH) (rL2PL2) and dendronG3(l-lysine-OH)-PPG2k-dendronG3(l-lysine-OH) (rL3PL3), were in similar structure but had different hydrophilic components and surface charges, thus leading to different capabilities in gene delivery and expression in skeletal muscle. rL2PL2 was more efficient than Pluronic L64 and rL3PL3 when mediating luciferase, β-galactosidase, and fluorescent protein expressions. Furthermore, rL2PL2-mediated growth-hormone-releasing hormone expression could significantly induce mouse body weight increase in the first 21 days after injection. In addition, both rL2PL2 and rL3PL3 showed good in vivo biosafety in local and systemic administration. Altogether, rL2PL2-mediated gene expression in skeletal muscle exhibited applicable potential for gene therapy. The study revealed that the molecular structure and electric charge were critical factors governing the function of the copolymers for intramuscular gene delivery. It can be concluded that, combined with the previous study, both structural arrangements either reverse or similar to the biomembrane are effective in designing such copolymers. It also provides an innovative way in designing and synthesizing new electroneutralized triblock copolymers, which could be used safely and efficiently for intramuscular gene delivery.

Grafting of cross-linked hydrogel networks to titanium surfaces

The performance of medical implants and devices is dependent on the biocompatibility of the interfacial region between tissue and the implant material. Polymeric hydrogels are attractive materials for use as biocompatible surface coatings for metal implants. In such systems, a factor that is critically important for the longevity of an implant is the formation of a robust bond between the hydrogel layer and the implant metal surface and the ability for this assembly to withstand physiological conditions. Here, we describe the grafting of cross-linked hydrogel networks to titanium surfaces using grit-blasting and subsequent chemical functionalization using a silane-based adhesion promoter. Metal surface characterization was carried out using profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Hydrogel layers composed of poly(ethylene glycol)-dimethacrylate (PEG-DMA), poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA), or poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(acrylic acid) (PEG/PAA) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) have been prepared. The mechanical properties of these hydrogel-metal assemblies have been characterized using lap-shear measurements, and the surface morphology was studied by SEM and EDX. We have shown that both high surface roughness and chemical functionalization are critical for adhesion of the hydrogel layer to the titanium substrate.

Silk constructs for delivery of musculoskeletal therapeutics

Silk fibroin (SF) is a biopolymer with distinguishing features from many other bio- as well as synthetic polymers. From a biomechanical and drug delivery perspective, SF combines remarkable versatility for scaffolding (solid implants, hydrogels, threads, solutions), with advanced mechanical properties and good stabilization and controlled delivery of entrapped protein and small molecule drugs, respectively. It is this combination of mechanical and pharmaceutical features which renders SF so exciting for biomedical applications. This pattern along with the versatility of this biopolymer has been translated into progress for musculoskeletal applications. We review the use and potential of silk fibroin for systemic and localized delivery of therapeutics in diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system. We also present future directions for this biopolymer as well as the necessary research and development steps for their achievement.

Cell attachment and response to photocured, degradable bone adhesives containing tricalcium phosphate and purmorphamine

The aim of this study was to quantify and provide evidence as to how addition of tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and the Hedgehog agonist purmorphamine to a degradable bone adhesive affects cell attachment/proliferation and Hedgehog pathway activation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that high levels (75 wt.%) of β-TCP addition reduced the photocure rate of the chosen poly(propylene glycol-co-lactide) dimethacrylate (PPLM) bone adhesive, but this problem was overcome by increased light exposure. In phosphate-buffered saline the total surface mass loss of set 15 mm diameter PPLM films was ∼3.2 mg in 12 weeks, irrespective of thickness (200 or 400 μm) or β-TCP level (50 or 75 wt.%). With 400 μm samples there was additional bulk material loss. Proliferation of pre-osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) on the set adhesive surfaces was enhanced by decreased sample thickness or filler content increase. Degradation evidence suggested that both effects were due to reduced acidic polymeric degradation products. Activation of the Hedgehog pathway was quantified by measuring Gli expression in Light II reporter cells. The 0.01 and 0.1 wt.% purmorphamine in composite discs (400 μm, 75 wt.% β-TCP) enhanced Gli expression of attached cells 2- and 5-fold, respectively, without influencing their number. Pre-storage of the composite samples in culture medium had no detrimental effect on this response. Furthermore, sample storage medium gave no enhanced Gli expression in cells on tissue culture plastic. This suggests drug release levels were very low. Purmorphamine and β-TCP incorporation in PPLM adhesives might, therefore, provide prolonged enhancement of in vivo bone repair without systemic drug side-effects.

Preparation of well-defined poly(ether-ester) macromers: photogelation and biodegradability

Two series of poly(ether-ester)-based bis-functional macromers terminated with acrylate groups and a well-defined number of ester bonds were synthesized. One series had a chain of 1, 3 or 5 ester bonds at both ends of the central poly(ethylene glycol) block (molecular weight, about 1000), while the other had an alternating structure of oligo(ethylene glycol) each of them linked to two ester bonds, in which 6 or 10 ester bonds were incorporated equally in the macromer molecules and the total molecular weight was adjusted by about 1000. Irradiation of all poly(ether-ester) macromers mixed with camphorquinone resulted in the formation of gels. Gel yield increased and hydrophilic properties of the gels produced decreased with irradiation time. The elastic modulus of the gels decreased with the number of ester bonds. Upon incubation in a PBS solution (pH 8.04), all gels were gradually degraded with time. At 3 weeks of incubation, the degradation ratio increased linearly with the number of ester bonds per unit of molecular weight of the macromers. The order of in vivo degradation rates determined from weight loss was similar to that of the in vitro study. Thus, these poly(ether-ester) macromers may be useful for biodegradable biomaterials or tissue engineering scaffolds.

Diallyl tartrate as a multifunctional monomer for bio-polymer synthesis

This paper introduces the use of a diallyl dicarboxylate compound, diallyl tartrate, as a monomer in the synthesis of a biodegradable polymer. Although the allyl functional group is generally known for not being able to polymerize to high conversions, it was found in this study that by using photoinitiation instead of thermal initiation, a highly cross-linked polymer could be obtained from the polymerization of diallyl tartrate in a relatively short time. The details of the polymerization reaction were investigated in detail using differential photocalorimetry (DPC). The final thermoset obtained was shown to be completely amorphous and rigid, with a glass transition temperature of approx. 90 degrees C and a storage modulus of approx. 1 GPa at room temperature, via thermal analysis. It was also found to biodegrade in vitro via hydrolysis of its ester groups at a moderate rate, taking nearly 12 weeks to lose 50% of its mass. Both the photo-polymerized material and its water-soluble degradation products were further shown to be non-cytotoxic to fibroblast cells over at least 24 h of exposure. These results aim to initiate the use of this class of monomers in the synthesis of new polymers with tailored properties for biomaterial applications.

Reactive calcium-phosphate-containing poly(ester-co-ether) methacrylate bone adhesives: chemical, mechanical and biological considerations

A poly(propylene glycol-co-lactide) dimethacrylate adhesive with monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) fillers in various levels has been investigated. Water sorption by the photo-polymerized materials catalyzed varying filler conversion to dicalcium phosphate (DCP). Polymer modulus was found to be enhanced upon raising total calcium phosphate content. With greater DCP levels, faster release of phosphate and calcium ions and improved buffering of polymer degradation products were observed. This could reduce the likelihood of pH-catalyzed bulk degradation and localized acid production and thereby may prevent adverse biological responses. Bone-like MG-63 cells were found to attach, spread and have normal morphology on both the polymer and composite surfaces. Moreover, composites implanted into chick embryo femurs became closely apposed to the host tissue and did not appear to induce adverse immunological reaction. The above results suggest that the new composite materials hold promise as clinical effective bone adhesives.

Electrostatic Assembly of Poly(ethylene glycol) Nanotubes

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based films, nanotubes, and nanotube arrays were successfully made using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly ion-containing PEO derivatives on porous templates and planar substrates. PEG nanotubes are challenging to produce because PEG dissolves into solutions and solvents used during nanotube processing, but our techniques circumvent the issue. Nanotube dimensions were verified using microscopy and the average observed diameter was 155 nm. The PEG-based structures showed remarkable stability in water, salt water, and sodium hydroxide solution.

Impact of blood collection devices on clinical chemistry assays

Blood collection devices interact with blood to alter blood composition, serum, or plasma fractions and in some cases adversely affect laboratory tests. Vascular access devices may release coating substances and exert shear forces that lyse cells. Blood-dissolving tube additives can affect blood constituent stability and analytical systems. Blood tube stoppers, stopper lubricants, tube walls, surfactants, clot activators, and separator gels may add materials, adsorb blood components, or interact with protein and cellular components. Thus, collection devices can be a major source of preanalytical error in laboratory testing. Device manufacturers, laboratory test vendors, and clinical laboratory personnel must understand these interactions as potential sources of error during preanalytical laboratory testing. Although the effects of endogenous blood substances have received attention, the effects of exogenous substances on assay results have not been well described. This review will identify sources of exogenous substances in blood specimens and propose methods to minimize their impact on clinical chemistry assays.

Chemical characterization of a degradable polymeric bone adhesive containing hydrolysable fillers and interpretation of anomalous mechanical properties

An experimental, light-curable, degradable polyester-based bone adhesive reinforced with phosphate glass particles ((P(2)O(5))(0.45)(CaO)(x)(Na(2)O)(0.55-)(x), x=0.3 or 0.4mol) or calcium phosphate (monocalcium phosphate/beta-tricalcium phosphate (MCPM/beta-TCP)) has been characterized. Early water sorption (8wt.% at 1week) by the unfilled set adhesive catalysed subsequent bulk degradation (4wt.% at 2weeks) and substantial decline in both elastic and storage moduli. Addition of phosphate glass fillers substantially enhanced this water sorption, catalysed greater bulk mass loss (40-50 and 52-55wt.%, respectively) but enabled generation of a microporous scaffold within 2weeks. The high levels of acidic polymer degradation products (38-50wt.% of original polymer) were advantageously buffered by the filler, which initially released primarily sodium trimetaphosphate (P(3)O93-). Calcium phosphate addition raised polymer water sorption to a lesser extent (16wt.%) and promoted intermediate early bulk mass loss (12wt.%) but simultaneous anomalous increase in modulus. This was attributed to MCPM reacting with absorbed water and beta-TCP to form more homogeneously dispersed brushite (CaHPO(4)) throughout the polymer. Between 2 and 10weeks, linear erosion of both polymer (0.5wt.%week(-1)) and composites (0.7-1.2wt.%week(-1)) occurred, with all fillers providing long-term buffer action through calcium and orthophosphate (PO43-) release. In conclusion, both fillers can raise degradation of bone adhesives whilst simultaneously providing the buffering action and ions required for new bone formation. Through control of water sorption catalysed filler reactions, porous structures for cell support or substantially stiffer materials may be generated.

Improvement of surface lubricity of polymers and metals by a glow-discharge plasma cross-linking process

A plasma cross-linking process was employed to improve the surface lubricity of different types of biomaterials, including stainless steel (SS), nitinol, polyethylene and nylon. To investigate the influence of monomers containing double bonds on top-layer cross-linking of poly(ethylene oxide) compound (PEOC), five different monomers, N-trimethylsilyl-allylamine (TMSAA), ethylene, propylene, allyl alcohol and ethane, were used in the study to produce a cross-linked coating layer on sample surfaces. Before the plasma cross-linking, samples underwent plasma treatment followed by wet chemical coating. The plasma treatment consists of plasma etching in NH(3)/O(2), Tetramethylcyclo-tetrasiloxane (TMCTS) coating and TMSAA grafting. The wet coating process includes dip-coating in a solution of poly(oxyethylene)-compound bis(1-hydroxy-benzotriazolyl carbonate) (HPEOC), then dip-coating in a solution of PEOC. By application of plasma processing, HPEOC and PEOC wet coating to sample surfaces, the lubricity was increased by 83% compared to clean samples. The plasmas of TMSAA, ethylene, propylene and allyl alcohol, all containing a C=C double bond, produced a cross-linking layer on the PEOC surface. Consequently the surface lubricity was improved by 20% to 37% in comparison to no cross-linking. The favorable condition for plasma cross-linking was found to be high power and long time. Ethane plasma also reduced the pulling force although it has no double bond in the molecular structure, which indicated a thin plasma coating from saturated hydrocarbons deposited on HPEOC or PEOC surfaces could also cause cross-linking and improve lubricity. It was found that the TMSAA cross-linking also worked on HPEOC and HEPOC/PEOC, even though the prior plasma coating process was skipped.

Insight in the role of bovine serum albumin for promoting the in situ surface growth of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) on patterned surfaces via enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of aliphatic polyesters produced by a variety of microorganisms as a reserve of carbon and energy. Enzymes involved in the synthesis of PHAs can be utilized to produce polymers in vitro, both in bulk and on solid surfaces. Here, site-specific attachment of the key catalytic enzyme, PHA synthase, on lithographically patterned surfaces and subsequent addition of (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA substrate allowed us to fabricate spatially ordered polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) polymeric structures via an in situ enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization (ESIP). By varying the reaction conditions, we enhanced the growth of PHB on solid surfaces and analyzed the resulting structures by fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). We found that stabilization of smaller PHB granule structures by an addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was the most important factor for a successful synthesis of a PHB layer up to 1mum in thickness, consisting mainly of larger cluster assemblies of PHB granules that cover the entire patterned area. Immunofluorescence detection and surface contact angle analysis revealed that BSA was physically bound to the PHB polymer all through the cluster, and reduced the overall hydrophobicity of the polymer surface. Based on information obtained from AFM, kinetic measurements and various polymer characterization methods, a plausible model for roles of BSA in the enhancement of PHB formation on surfaces is discussed. Furthermore, by using biotinylated BSA conjugates, we were able to incorporate biotin groups into the PHB polymer matrix, thus generating a bioactive surface that can be used for displaying other functional biomolecules through streptavidin-biotin interaction on the PHB structures. Because of its versatility, our fabrication strategy is expected to be a useful surface modification tool for numerous biomedical and biotechnological applications.

In situ polymerizable polyethyleneglycol containing polyesterpolyol acrylates for tissue sealant applications

Polyesterpolyol macromers were prepared with succinic acid and polyethylene glycols (PEG) of different molecular weights. The resulting polyols were acrylated to render them photo-cross-linkable. They could be very rapidly cross-linked into non-tacky films with long-wavelength UV radiation. The resulting products were characterized by gel content, water equilibrium swell, cross-link density, Tg , tensile strength, degradation and in vitro burst strengths. Though all of them formed transparent contact lens like films, increasing the PEG molecular weight has resulted in polymers with higher hydrophilicity resulting in higher swelling, faster degradation, higher tensile strength, elongation at break and burst strength. Addition of vinyl pyrrolidinone as a reactive diluent has increased the mechanical as well as burst strength of the polymer. In vitro release of sulfamethoxazole entrapped in these cross-linked matrices was also studied.