fabricating-superhydrophobic-polymeric-materials-for-biomedical

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Superhydrophobic materials, with surfaces possessing permanent or metastable non-wetted states, are of interest for a number of biomedical and industrial ...

Boston University

The synthesis of a family of new poly(lactic acid-co-glycerol monostearate) (PLA-PGC18) copolymers and their use as biodegradable polymer dopants is reported to enhance the hydrophobicity of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nonwoven meshes. Solutions of PLGA are doped with PLA-PGC18 and electrospun to form meshes with micrometer-sized fibers. Fiber diameter, percent doping, and copolymer composition influence the nonwetting nature of the meshes and alter their mechanical (tensile) properties. Contact angles as high as 160° are obtained with 30% polymer dopant. Lastly, these meshes are nontoxic, as determined by an NIH/3T3 cell biocompatibility assay, and displayed a minimal foreign body response when implanted in mice. In summary, a general method for constructing biodegradable fibrous meshes with tunable hydrophobicity is described for use in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.

Imparting superhydrophobicity to biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) electrospun meshes.

20-(S)-Camptothecin (CPT)-conjugated dipeptides are reported that preassemble into nanotubes with diameters ranging from 80-120 nm. These nanoassemblies maintain a high (∼47 %) drug loading and exhibit greater drug stability (i.e., resistance to lactone hydrolysis), and consequently greater efficacy against several human cancer cells (HT-29, A549, H460, and H23) in vitro compared with the clinically used prodrug irinotecan. A key and defining feature of this system is the use of the CPT-conjugated dipeptide as both the drug and precursor to the nanostructured carrier, which simplifies the overall fabrication process.

The self-assembly of anticancer camptothecin-dipeptide nanotubes: a minimalistic and high drug loading approach to increased efficacy.

To develop a breast biopsy marker that resists fast and slow migration and has permanent visibility under commonly used imaging modalities.

Jonah Kaplan

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Boston University

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Jonah Kaplan

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Boston University

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

Department of Biomedical Engineering