Synthesis and properties of a star-shaped poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-ibuprofen conjugate

Fibrillated bacterial cellulose liquid carbene bioadhesives for mimicking and bonding oral cavity surfaces

Topical treatments for oral wounds and infections exhibit weak adhesion to wet surfaces which results in short retention duration (6-8 hours), frequent dosing requirement and patient incompatibility. To address these limitations, aqueous composites made of fibrillated bacterial cellulose and photoactive bioadhesives are designed for soft epithelial surfaces. The aqueous composites crosslink upon photocuring within a minute and exhibit a transition from viscous to elastic adhesive hydrogels. The light-cured composites have shear moduli mimicking oral mucosa and other soft tissues. The tunable adhesion strength ranges from 3 to 35 kPa on hydrated tissue-mimicking surfaces (collagen film). The results support the application of bacterial cellulose hydrogel systems for potential treatment of mucosal wounds.

Pamidronate-Conjugated Biodegradable Branched Copolyester Carriers: Synthesis and Characterization

The need for development of comprehensive therapeutic systems, (e.g., polymer-apatite composites) as a bone substitute material has previously been highlighted in many scientific reports. The aim of this study was to develop a new multifunctional composite based on hydroxyapatite porous granules doped with selenite ions (SeO₃^2-) and a biodegradable branched copolymer-bisphosphonate conjugate as a promising bone substitute material for patients with bone tumours or bone metastasis. A series of biodegradable and branched copolymer matrices, adequate for delivery of bisphosphonate in the bone-deficient area were synthesized and physico-chemically and biologically (cyto- and genotoxicity assays) characterized. Branched copolymers were obtained using a hyperbranched bis-MPA polyester-16-hydroxyl initiator and Sn(Oct)₂, a (co)catalyst of the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l,l-lactide (LLA) and ε-caprolactone (CL). A new amide bond was formed between the hydroxyl end groups of the synthesized copolymer carriers and an amine group of pamidronate (PAM)-the drug inhibiting bone resorption and osteoclast activity in bone. The dependence of the physico-chemical properties of the copolymer matrices on the kinetic release of PAM from the synthesized branched copolymer conjugate-coated hydroxyapatite granules doped with selenite ions was observed. Moreover, the correlation of these results with the hydrolytic degradation data of the synthesized matrices was evidenced. Therefore, the developed composite porous hydroxyapatite doped with SeO₃^2- ions/biodegradable copolymer-PAM conjugate appears most attractive as a bone substitute material for cancer patients.

One-pot preparation of polylactic acid-ibuprofen conjugates and their performance characterization

Merging esterification modification, carrier preparation, and chemical conjugation into a one-pot reaction as a new strategy for developing the polylactic acid-ibuprofen conjugates is described.

Enzymatic Polymerization of an Ibuprofen-Containing Monomer and Subsequent Drug Release

Novel ibuprofen-containing monomers comprising naturally occurring and biocompatible compounds were synthesized and subsequently polymerized via enzymatic methods. Through the use of a malic acid sugar backbone, ibuprofen was attached as a pendant group, and then subsequently polymerized with a linear aliphatic diol (1,3-propanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, or 1,8-octanediol) as comonomer using lipase B from Candida antarctica, a greener alternative to traditional metal catalysts. Polymer structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopies, and thermal properties and molecular weights were determined. All polymers exhibited sustained ibuprofen release, with the longer chain, more hydrophobic diols exhibiting the slowest release over the 30 d study. Polymers were deemed cytocompatible using mouse fibroblasts, when evaluated at relevant therapeutic concentrations. Additionally, ibuprofen retained its chemical integrity throughout the polymerization and in vitro hydrolytic degradation processes. This methodology of enzymatic polymerization of a drug presents a more environmentally friendly synthesis and a novel approach to bioactive polymer conjugates.

Ampicillin-ester bonded branched polymers: characterization, cyto-, genotoxicity and controlled drug-release behaviour

The development and characterization of novel macromolecular conjugates of ampicillin using branched biodegradable polymers has been described in this study. The conjugates have been prepared coupling the β-lactam antibiotic with branched polymer matrices based on the natural oligopeptide core. The cyto- and genotoxicity of the synthesized polymers were evaluated with a bacterial luminescence test, two protozoan assays and Salmonella typhimurium TA1535. The presence of a newly formed covalent bond between the drug and the polymer matrices was confirmed by ¹H-NMR and FTIR studies. A drug content (15.6 and 10.2 mole %) in the macromolecular conjugates has been determined. The obtained macromolecular products have been subjected to further in vitro release studies. The total percentage of ampicillin released after 21 days of incubation was nearly 60% and 14% and this resulted from the different physicochemical properties of the polymeric matrices. This is the first report on the application of branched biodegradable polymeric matrices for the covalent conjugation of ampicillin. The obtained results showed that the synthesized macromolecular drug-conjugates might slowly release the active drug molecule and improve the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin.

The Discovery of a Facile Access to the Synthesis of NSAID Dendritic Prodrugs

An efficient and straightforward method for the preparation of dendritic prodrugs is reported. Based on this new approach, a class of biodegradable dendrimers has been synthesised from L-tartaric acid and one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, namely, aspirin or ibuprofen.