Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Hybrid biodegradable membranes of silane-treated chitosan/soy protein for biomedical applications
In recent years, progress in the field of hybrid materials has been accelerated through use of the sol–gel process for creating materials and devices, which benefit from the incorporation of both inorganic and organic components. In this work, organic–inorganic hybrid membranes were prepared from tetraethoxysilane and a blend system composed of chitosan and soy protein. By introducing a small amount of siloxane bond into the chitosan/soy protein system, the chitosan/soy protein hybrid membranes were improved in terms of structure, topography and mechanical properties. It appears that the chitosan/soy protein hy...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - July 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Silva, S. S., Oliveira, J. M., Benesch, J., Caridade, S. G., Mano, J. F., Reis, R. R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Ibuprofen-loaded chitosan/poly(maleic anhydride-alt-vinyl acetate) submicronic capsules for pain treatment
A new approach to prepare polymeric capsules was developed to obtain an efficient controlled release system for pain treatment. Capsules with a mean diameter between 400 and 1000 nm were prepared using an interfacial condensation method between a natural polymer, chitosan, and a synthetic one, poly(maleic anhydride-alt-vinyl acetate). The influence of different reaction parameters on capsule diameter and properties was investigated. Zeta-potential determinations indicated a good stability of the capsules in aqueous solution containing KCl. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the submicron dimensions and the spherical sh...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - July 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Iurea (Rata), D. M., Popa, M., Chailan, J.-F., Tamba, B. I., Tudorancea, I., Peptu, C. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The synthesis and characterization of a thermally responsive hyaluronic acid/Pluronic copolymer and an evaluation of its potential as an artificial vitreous substitute
A smart in situ polymerizable artificial vitreous substitute was synthesized via the copolymerization of hyaluronic acid and Pluronic® F-127. This copolymer has a unique sol–gel transition at different temperatures. The liquid was injected into a vitreous cavity at room temperature and forms a hydrogel at physiological temperatures. The chemical, rheological, and optical properties and the biodegradability and biocompatibility were studied to determine the optimum formulation for the hydrogel. The H1F20 hydrogel optical properties were similar to those of the vitreous humor. Biodegradability studies indicate that...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - July 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Lin, Y.-K., Chen, K.-H., Kuan, C.-Y. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Bioreducible cross-linked Pluronic micelles: pH-triggered release of doxorubicin and folate-mediated cellular uptake
Bioreducible are described here, cross-linked Pluronic micelles carrying doxorubicin (DOX) for folate-mediated cancer targeting. The amine-terminated Pluronic® F-127 was functionalized by grafting acrylic acid (AA) to the hydrophobic block (AA-Pluronic-NH2). Folic acid (FA), hydrazine (H), and cystamine (C) were sequentially conjugated to AA-Pluronic-NH2, followed by DOX conjugation via an acid-labile hydrazone bond (FA-Pluronic-C/H-DOX). The DOX content was approximately 143 µg/mg of polymer. We prepared bioreducible cross-linked micelles using FA-Pluronic-C/H-DOX, which had a diameter of 156.1 nm. After incubat...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - July 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Nguyen, D. H., Bae, J. W., Choi, J. H., Lee, J. S., Park, K. D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Additive manufacturing of star poly({varepsilon}-caprolactone) wet-spun scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications
Three-dimensional fibrous scaffolds made of a three-arm star poly(-caprolactone) were developed by employing a novel computer-aided wet-spinning apparatus to precisely control the deposition pattern of an extruded polymeric solution as a filament into a coagulation bath. Star poly(-caprolactone)/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds composed of fibres with a porous morphology both in the outer surface and in the cross section were successfully produced with a layer-by-layer approach achieving good reproducibility of the internal architecture and external shape. Changes in processing parameters were used to fabricate scaffolds...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - July 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Mota, C., Puppi, D., Dinucci, D., Gazzarri, M., Chiellini, F. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Optimizing the fabrication processes for manufacturing a hybrid hierarchical polyurethane-cell/hydrogel construct
In this study, several subprocesses were optimized to produce hybrid hierarchical polyurethane–cell/hydrogel constructs with an intrinsic network of grid and branched channels using a double-nozzle low-temperature deposition rapid prototyping system. The formation quality was mainly determined by the polymer concentration and composition. However, the cell viability was mainly determined by the formation time. Cell sensitivities to the inner nozzle diameter and extrusion flux were not significantly different within the given parameter ranges. The integrity of the two material systems can be varied by the formation ro...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - July 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Wang, X., He, K., Zhang, W. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Avidin-conjugated polymers with monobiotinylated antibody fragments: A new strategy for the noncovalent attachment of recombinant proteins for polymer therapeutics
The high affinity and specificity between avidin and biotin were employed to bind a recombinant single-chain antibody fragment to synthetic hydrophilic polymer drug carriers. Two semitelechelic polymers, based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide], each containing a single thiol end group, were conjugated to dithiopyridyl-modified avidin. The biotinylated recombinant single-chain antibody fragment of the M75 antibody was then noncovalently bound to the polymer-avidin conjugates. The recombinant protein was chosen as a targeting ligand against carbonic anhydrase IX, a marker overexpressed by t...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Laga, R., Pola, R., Ulbrich, K., Horrejsi, M., Sieglova, I., Kral, V., Fabry, M., Pechar, M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Application of high-strength biodegradable polyurethanes containing different ratios of biobased isomannide and poly ({epsilon}-caprolactone) diol
Biodegradable–biocompatible polyurethanes were prepared with fixed hexamethylene diisocyanate and varying ratios of isomannide and poly(-caprolactone) diol using a simple one-step polymerization without a catalyst. The polyurethane structures were confirmed by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The glass transition temperatures were determined by thermal analysis to be between 25°C and 30°C. Degradation tests performed at 37°C in phosphate buffer produced mass losses of 5%–10% after 8 weeks. After 5 days of culture, using osteob...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Lim, D.-I., Park, H.-S., Park, J.-H., Knowles, J. C., Gong, M.-S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Trapping tetracycline-loaded nanoparticles into polycaprolactone fiber networks for periodontal regeneration therapy
The controlled delivery of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, or chemotherapeutic agents to the periodontal site is a recognized strategy to improve the efficiency of regenerative processes of hard tissues. A novel approach based on the trapping of tetracycline hydrochloride–loaded particles in polycaprolactone nanofibers was used to guide the regeneration processes of periodontal tissue at the gum interface. Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with different levels of tetracycline hydrochloride (up to 5% wt) were prepared by solution nebulization induced by electrical forces (i.e. electrospraying). The fine tuning of ...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Khodir, W. W. A., Guarino, V., Alvarez-Perez, M., Cafiero, C., Ambrosio, L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Cartilage tissue engineering with controllable shape using a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/collagen hybrid scaffold
It is of critical importance to prepare three-dimensional biodegradable porous scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. We developed a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/collagen hybrid scaffold, which combined the advantages of natural type I collagen and synthetic polymer polylactin 910 knitted mesh (90:10 copolymer of glycolic acid and lactic acid), and a method using this poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/collagen scaffold to regenerate cartilage with controllable shape. The mechanically strong poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) mesh served as a mechanical skeleton supporting the scaffold, and the collagen benefited cell seeding,...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Dai, W., Yao, Z., Dong, J., Kawazoe, N., Zhang, C., Chen, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Elastic, double-layered poly (l-lactide-co-{epsilon}-caprolactone) scaffold for long-term vascular reconstruction
In this study, we developed a novel tubular double-layered poly(l-lactide-co--caprolactone) scaffold that did not require pretreatment with cell seeding by promoting autologous tissue regeneration by inducing the proliferation and differentiation of endothelial and smooth muscle progenitor cells after implantation. The patency and mechanical properties were maintained for one year after implantation, although 95% of the poly(l-lactide-co--caprolactone) scaffolds had degraded. After this period, there was a lining of endothelial cells, an accumulation of collagen and elastin, and the development of neovascularization inside...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Mun, C. H., Kim, S.-H., Jung, Y., Kim, S.-H., Kim, A.-k., Kim, D.-I., Kim, S. H. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Nuclear location signal peptide-modified poly (ethyleneimine)/DNA complexes: An efficient gene delivery vector in vitro and in vivo
In this study, we demonstrated a simple method to modify poly(ethyleneimine)/DNA complexes with a nuclear location signal peptide via bis(succinimidyl) penta(ethylene glycol) coupling. The amount of grafted nuclear location signal peptide was controlled within a range of 0–9 µg for poly(ethyleneimine)/DNA complexes containing 10 µg DNA and 100 µg poly(ethyleneimine) by adjusting the grafting agent and peptide feeds. The particle size and surface zeta-potential of the complexes were largely retained after nuclear location signal immobilization. Based on the results of the flow cytometry measurements,...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Zhang, H., Liang, Z., Li, W., Li, F., Chen, Q. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

The effectiveness, cytotoxicity, and intracellular trafficking of nonviral vectors for gene delivery to bone mesenchymal stem cells
This study systematically investigated and compared the potential of polyethylenimine and Lipofectamine 2000 as gene carriers to modify bone mesenchymal stem cells including transfection efficiency, cytotoxicity, intracellular trafficking as well as cell membrane damage and apoptosis/necrosis. Polyethylenimine at its optimal N/P ratio of 10 demonstrated the same toxic effects but lower transfection efficiency (17.1% vs 39.5%) compared to Lipofectamine. Intracellular trafficking resulted in over 80% of bone mesenchymal stem cells that were able to take up polyethylenimine polyplexes, but only 20.69% showed nuclear uptake; h...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Peng, L., Gao, Y., Xue, Y.-N., Huang, S.-W., Zhuo, R.-X. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Preparation of an adipose-derived stem cell/fibrin-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) construct based on a rapid prototyping technique
Currently, large, thick, and complex tissue vascularization is one of the research focuses of tissue engineering. Numerous studies have proven that microvascular systems can be developed by cultivating endothelial cells in a hydrogel/scaffold structure. As the sources of adult endothelial cells are very limited and very easily degraded, it is better to induce stem cells into endothelial cells. In this article, a grid poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) structure with defined internal channels was fabricated using a low-temperature deposition manufacturing technique under computer direction. In a fibrinogen mixture, an aqueou...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - May 23, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Zhao, X., Wang, X. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Physical and biological effects of gellan gum on decreasing postoperative adhesion in a rat model
An antiadhesion membrane made from gellan gum was fabricated and characterized. A 12-µm-thick membrane of gellan gum was prepared and reacted with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide to obtain a cross-linked membrane (G/A70) with 87% gel content and a tensile strength of 46.5 MPa. In vivo, the G/A70 membrane had 90% less tissue adhesion. Inflammation-related and extracellular matrix protein gene expression in a rat model of abdominal surgery was found by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. On day 3, after surgery, the gene expression of ceruloplasmin and type V ...
Source: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers - March 12, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Chang, S.-J., Kuo, S.-M., You, J.-L., Wu, Y.-R., Chen, S.-Y., Lee, M.-W. Tags: Articles Source Type: research