Synthetic hyperbranched polyesters with potential therapeutic
properties
were synthesized using the bifunctional polyethylene glycol or PEG
with different molecular weights, ca., 4000, 6000, and 20,000 g/mol,
and the trifunctional trans-aconitic acid or TAA.
During polycondensation, a fixed amount of PEG was allowed to react
with varying amounts of TAA (1:1 and 1:3) to control the branching
extents. It was found that the synthetic polyesters had a considerable
yield and were highly water soluble. Spectroscopic data (Fourier transform
infrared and 1H NMR) confirmed the polyester formation;
the branching percentages were determined from 1H NMR spectroscopy
which varied from 73% to 22% among the synthesized samples. As the
molecular weight of PEG was increased, the branching percentage drastically
dropped. All polyesters were found to be negatively charged due to
the ionization of unreacted –COOH in the branched ends at the
working pH (7.4). Both the hydrodynamic size and intrinsic viscosity
were found to reduce as the branching extent increased. Among the
sets of polyesters, the one with the highest branching percentage
(73%) showed the core–shell morphology (evident from field
emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy
studies). It also exhibited the highest efficiency toward Ca2+ influx in neuronal cells due to the unique morphology and the negatively
charged surface. Nevertheless, this particular grade of polyester
along with all the other grades was cytocompatible and induced reactive
oxygen species generation. Since the maximally branched grade was
highly efficient in altering the Ca2+ signaling through
stronger influx, it may well be tested for treating neuronal disorders
in vivo in future.