Near‐Infrared Emitting and Pro‐Angiogenic Electrospun Conjugated Polymer Scaffold for Optical Biomaterial Tracking

Abstract

Non-invasive tracking of biomaterials is vital for determining the fate and degradation of an implant in vivo, and to show its role in tissue regeneration. Current biomaterials have no inherent capacity that enable tracing but require labeling with e.g. fluorescent dyes, or nanoparticles. Here we describe a novel biocompatible fully conjugated electrospun scaffold, based on a semiconducting luminescent polymer that can be visualized in situ after implantation using fluorescence imaging. The polymer, poly [2,3-bis-(3-octyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-5,8-diyl-alt-thiophene-2,5-diyl] (TQ1), was electrospun to form a fibrous mat. The fibers display fluorescence emission in the near-infrared region with lifetimes in the sub-nanosecond range, optimal for in situ imaging. The material shows no cytotoxic behaviors for embryonic chicken cardiomyocytes and mouse myoblasts, and cells migrate onto the TQ1 fibers even in the presence of a collagen substrate. Subcutaneous implantations of the material in rats showed incorporation of the TQ1 fibers within the tissue, with limited inflammation and a preponderance of small capillaries around the fibers. The fluorescent properties of the TQ1 fibers are fully retained for up to 90 days following implantation and they can be clearly visualized in tissue using fluorescence and lifetime imaging, thus making it both a pro-angiogenic and traceable biomaterial.3

<p>Electrospun Scaffold with Sustained Antibacterial and Tissue-Matched Mechanical Properties for Potential Application as Functional Mesh</p>

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<p>Electrospun Scaffold with Sustained Antibacterial and Tissue-Matched Mechanical Properties for Potential Application as Functional Mesh</p>

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Synthesis and Fluorescent Property of Biodegradable Polyphosphazene Targeting Long-Term in Vivo Tracking

“…It is important and quite attractive if the location and the degradation of scaffolding materials for tissue engineering can be visualized in vivo. 41 Different from many conventional biodegradable polymers, which are hard or complex to be modified to have intrinsic photoluminescent features, biodegradable polyphosphazenes stand out due to their strong flexibility in designing chemical structures. 38 By introducing fluorescent side groups onto the polyphosphazene backbone, together with other biocompatible and cell affinitive side groups, photoluminescent polyphosphazenes were readily synthesized to target for in vivo applications.…”

“…It is important and quite attractive if the location and the degradation of scaffolding materials for tissue engineering can be visualized in vivo . Different from many conventional biodegradable polymers, which are hard or complex to be modified to have intrinsic photoluminescent features, biodegradable polyphosphazenes stand out due to their strong flexibility in designing chemical structures .…”

Combining Benzotriazole and Benzodithiophene Host Units in Host–Guest Polymers for Efficient and Stable Near‐Infrared Emission from Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells

“…Light‐emitting devices based on organic semiconductors that emit in the near‐infrared (NIR) are exhibiting a strong and growing interest for applications in, for example, bioimaging, telecommunication, and as chemical sensors, due to important advantages such as light weight, flexibility, areal emission, and low power consumption . Accordingly, there is currently an intense development of NIR‐emitting organic semiconductors, including lanthanide complexes, organic small molecules (SMs), conjugated polymers, and transition‐metal complexes, which are implemented in NIR‐emissive devices, primarily organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, a general drawback with efficient OLEDs is that they depend upon a sophisticated multilayer active‐material structure and a low‐work‐function cathode.…”

<p>Electrospun Scaffold with Sustained Antibacterial and Tissue-Matched Mechanical Properties for Potential Application as Functional Mesh</p>

“……”

Synthesis and Fluorescent Property of Biodegradable Polyphosphazene Targeting Long-Term in Vivo Tracking

“…It is important and quite attractive if the location and the degradation of scaffolding materials for tissue engineering can be visualized in vivo. 41 Different from many conventional biodegradable polymers, which are hard or complex to be modified to have intrinsic photoluminescent features, biodegradable polyphosphazenes stand out due to their strong flexibility in designing chemical structures. 38 By introducing fluorescent side groups onto the polyphosphazene backbone, together with other biocompatible and cell affinitive side groups, photoluminescent polyphosphazenes were readily synthesized to target for in vivo applications.…”

“…It is important and quite attractive if the location and the degradation of scaffolding materials for tissue engineering can be visualized in vivo . Different from many conventional biodegradable polymers, which are hard or complex to be modified to have intrinsic photoluminescent features, biodegradable polyphosphazenes stand out due to their strong flexibility in designing chemical structures .…”

Combining Benzotriazole and Benzodithiophene Host Units in Host–Guest Polymers for Efficient and Stable Near‐Infrared Emission from Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells

“…Light‐emitting devices based on organic semiconductors that emit in the near‐infrared (NIR) are exhibiting a strong and growing interest for applications in, for example, bioimaging, telecommunication, and as chemical sensors, due to important advantages such as light weight, flexibility, areal emission, and low power consumption . Accordingly, there is currently an intense development of NIR‐emitting organic semiconductors, including lanthanide complexes, organic small molecules (SMs), conjugated polymers, and transition‐metal complexes, which are implemented in NIR‐emissive devices, primarily organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, a general drawback with efficient OLEDs is that they depend upon a sophisticated multilayer active‐material structure and a low‐work‐function cathode.…”

<p>Electrospun Scaffold with Sustained Antibacterial and Tissue-Matched Mechanical Properties for Potential Application as Functional Mesh</p>

“……”

Synthesis and Fluorescent Property of Biodegradable Polyphosphazene Targeting Long-Term in Vivo Tracking

“…It is important and quite attractive if the location and the degradation of scaffolding materials for tissue engineering can be visualized in vivo. 41 Different from many conventional biodegradable polymers, which are hard or complex to be modified to have intrinsic photoluminescent features, biodegradable polyphosphazenes stand out due to their strong flexibility in designing chemical structures. 38 By introducing fluorescent side groups onto the polyphosphazene backbone, together with other biocompatible and cell affinitive side groups, photoluminescent polyphosphazenes were readily synthesized to target for in vivo applications.…”

“…It is important and quite attractive if the location and the degradation of scaffolding materials for tissue engineering can be visualized in vivo . Different from many conventional biodegradable polymers, which are hard or complex to be modified to have intrinsic photoluminescent features, biodegradable polyphosphazenes stand out due to their strong flexibility in designing chemical structures .…”

Combining Benzotriazole and Benzodithiophene Host Units in Host–Guest Polymers for Efficient and Stable Near‐Infrared Emission from Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells

“…Light‐emitting devices based on organic semiconductors that emit in the near‐infrared (NIR) are exhibiting a strong and growing interest for applications in, for example, bioimaging, telecommunication, and as chemical sensors, due to important advantages such as light weight, flexibility, areal emission, and low power consumption . Accordingly, there is currently an intense development of NIR‐emitting organic semiconductors, including lanthanide complexes, organic small molecules (SMs), conjugated polymers, and transition‐metal complexes, which are implemented in NIR‐emissive devices, primarily organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, a general drawback with efficient OLEDs is that they depend upon a sophisticated multilayer active‐material structure and a low‐work‐function cathode.…”