Well-defined thermosensitive poly[tri(ethylene glycol) monoethyl ether methacrylate] (P(TEGMA-EE)) brushes were synthesized on a solid substrate by the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of TEGMA-EE. The polymerization reaction was initiated by 2-bromo-2-methylpropionate groups immobilized on the surface of the wafers. The changes in the surface composition, morphology, philicity, and thickness that occurred at each step of wafer functionalization confirmed that all surface modification procedures were successful. Both the successful modification of the surface and bonding of the P(TEGMA-EE) layer were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The thickness of the obtained P(TEGMA-EE) layers increased with increasing polymerization time. The increase of environmental temperature above the cloud point temperature of P(TEGMA-EE) caused the changes of surface philicity. A simultaneous decrease in the polymer layer thickness confirmed the thermosensitive properties of these P(TEGMA-EE) layers. The thermosensitive polymer surfaces obtained were evaluated for the growth and harvesting of human fibroblasts (basic skin cells). At 37 °C, seeded cells adhered to and spread well onto the P(TEGMA-EE)-coated surfaces. A confluent cell sheet was formed within 24 h of cell culture. Lowering the temperature to an optimal value of 17.5 °C (below the cloud point temperature of the polymer, TCP, in cell culture medium) led to the separation of the fibroblast sheet from the polymer layer. These promising results indicate that the surfaces produced may successfully be used as substrate for engineering of skin tissue, especially for delivering cell sheets in the treatment of burns and slow-healing wounds.
This study describes a novel approach to the preparation of crosslinked polymeric nanoparticles of controlled sizes that can be degraded under basic conditions. For this purpose thermoresponsive copolymers containing azide and alkyne functions were obtained by ATRP of di(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate (D) and 2-aminoethyl methacrylate (A) followed by post polymerization modification. The amino groups of A were reacted with propargyl chloroformate or 2-azido-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium hexafluorophosphate, which led to two types of copolymers. Increasing the temperature of aqueous solutions of the mixed copolymers caused their aggregation into spherical nanoparticles composed of both types of chains. Their dimensions could be controlled by changing the concentration and heating rate of the solutions. Covalent stabilization of aggregated chains was performed by a "click" reaction between the azide and alkyne groups. Due to the presence of a carbamate bond the nanoparticles undergo pH dependent degradation under mild basic conditions. The proposed procedure opens a route to new carriers for the controlled release of active species.
This study describes a novel approach to polymeric nanocarriers of the therapeutic peptide met-enkephalin based on the aggregation of thermoresponsive polymers. Thermoresponsive bioconjugate poly((di(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-ran-(oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate) is synthesized by AGET ATRP using modified met-enkephalin as a macroinitiator. The abrupt heating of bioconjugate water solution leads to the self-assembly of bioconjugate chains and the formation of mesoglobules of controlled sizes. Mesoglobules formed by bioconjugates are stabilized by coating with cross-linked two-layer shell via nucleated radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide using a degradable cross-linker. The targeting peptide RGD, containing the fluorescence marker carboxyfluorescein, is linked to a nanocarrier during the formation of the outer shell layer. In the presence of glutathione, the whole shell is completely degradable and the met-enkephalin conjugate is released. It is anticipated that precisely engineered nanoparticles protecting their cargo will emerge as the next-generation platform for cancer therapy and many other biomedical applications.
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