Phenylboronic Acid-polymers for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Background: Phenylboronic acid-polymers (PBA-polymers) have attracted tremendous attention as potential stimuli-responsive materials with applications in drug-delivery depots, scaffolds for tissue engineering, HIV barriers, and biomolecule-detecting/sensing platforms. The unique aspect of PBA-polymers is their interactions with diols, which result in reversible, covalent bond formation. This very nature of reversible bonding between boronic acids and diols has been fundamental to their applications in the biomedical area. Methods: We have searched peer-reviewed articles including reviews from Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar with a focus on the 1) chemistry of PBA, 2) synthesis of PBA-polymers, and 3) their biomedical applications. Results: We have summarized approximately 179 papers in this review. Most of the applications described in this review are focused on the unique ability of PBA molecules to interact with diol molecules and the dynamic nature of the resulting boronate esters. The strong sensitivity of boronate ester groups towards the surrounding pH also makes these molecules stimuli-responsive. In addition, we also discuss how the re-arrangement of the dynamic boronate ester bonds renders PBA-based materials with other unique features such as self-healing and shear thinning. Conclusion: The presence of PBA in the polymer chain can render it with diverse functions/ relativities without changing their intrinsic properties. In this review, we discuss the development of PBA polymers with diverse functions and their biomedical applications with a specific focus on the dynamic nature of boronate ester groups.

Biomaterial-assisted local and systemic delivery of bioactive agents for bone repair

“…hydrolysis, redox, pH, enzymatic activity) or can be achieved with the use of extracorporeal stimuli (i.e. light, temperature ultrasound, electromagnetic field) [66,[143][144][145][146][147][148]. Such carriers susceptible to environmental stimuli are endowed with the capability of on-demand release.…”

Nanoassemblies with Effective Serum Tolerance Capability Achieving Robust Gene Silencing Efficacy for Breast Cancer Gene Therapy

“…[ 9 ] In addition, PBA can also coordinate with cationic amine and imidazole groups that exist on proteins through nitrogen‐boronate complexation. [ 10 ] On the basis of these advantages, PBA was usually employed to modify polymers in order to improve gene expression and transfection efficacy. [ 2d,11 ] PBA‐modified dendrimers have achieved high plasmid DNA and siRNA delivery efficacy in vitro.…”

“…[9] In addition, PBA can also coordinate with cationic amine and imidazole groups that exist on proteins through nitrogenboronate complexation. [10] On the basis of these advantages,The transfection efficiency of siRNA mediated by cationic polymers is limited due to the instability of polymers/siRNA complexes in the presence of serum. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is usually applied to modify cationic polymers, so as to reduce protein and cell adsorption and then to improve siRNA transfection efficiency.…”

“…[9] In addition, PBA can also coordinate with cationic amine and imidazole groups that exist on proteins through nitrogenboronate complexation. [10] On the basis of these advantages,…”

Control of Cell‐Substrate Binding Related to Cell Proliferation Cycle Status Using a Cytocompatible Phospholipid Polymer Bearing Phenylboronic Acid Groups

“…The cell binding can be detected through the selective reactions. [ 20–23 ] Based on these results, we hypothesized that cells bearing sugar chains could be captured on the surface of the MPC polymer via phenylboronic acid groups. The reaction between sugar and phenylboronic acid is reversible and depends on the binding constant.…”