Oligo Ethylene Glycol Methacrylate Research Articles

Notch-targeted Therapeutic in Colorectal Cancer by Notch1 Attenuation via Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Cascade DNA Delivery.

The Notch signaling is a key molecular pathway that regulates cell fate and development. Aberrant Notch signaling can lead to carcinogenesis and progression of malignant tumors. However, current therapies targeting Notch pathway lack specificity and induce high toxicity. In this report, we design a tumor microenvironment-responsive and injectable hydrogel to load plasmid DNA complexes as a cascade gene delivery system to achieve precise Notch-targeted gene therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). The hydrogels were prepared through cross-linking between phenylboric acid groups-containing poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) (POEGMA) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which were used to load the complexes between plasmid DNA encoding short hairpin RNAs of Notch1 (shNotch1) and fluorinated polyamidoamine (PAMAM-F) (PAMAM-F/shNotch1). In response to low pH and H2O2 in tumor microenvironment, the hydrogel can be dissociated and release the complexes for precise delivery of shNotch1 into tumor cells and inhibit Notch1 activity to suppress malignant biological behaviors of CRC. In the subcutaneous tumor model of CRC, PAMAM-F/shNotch1-loaded hydrogels can accurately attenuate Notch1 activity and significantly inhibit tumor growth without affecting Notch signal in adjacent normal tissues. Therefore, this therapeutic system can precisely inhibit Notch1 signal in CRC with high responsiveness and low toxicity, providing a promising Notch-targeted gene therapeutic for human malignancy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Degradable Nanogels Based on Poly[Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Methacrylate] (POEGMA) Derivatives through Thermo-Induced Aggregation of Polymer Chain and Subsequent Chemical Crosslinking.

Polymer nanogels-considered as nanoscale hydrogel particles-are attractive for biological and biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical flexibility. However, the aggregation or accumulation of nanoparticles in the body or the occurrence of the body's defense reactions still pose a research challenge. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of degradable nanogels using thermoresponsive, cytocompatible poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate]s-based copolymers (POEGMA). The combination of POEGMA's beneficial properties (switchable affinity to water, nontoxicity, non-immunogenicity) along with the possibility of nanogel degradation constitute an important approach from a biological point of view. The copolymers of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates were partially modified with short segments of degradable oligo(lactic acid) (OLA) terminated with the acrylate group. Under the influence of temperature, copolymers formed self-assembled nanoparticles, so-called mesoglobules, with sizes of 140-1000 nm. The thermoresponsive behavior of the obtained copolymers and the nanostructure sizes depended on the heating rate and the presence of salts in the aqueous media. The obtained mesoglobules were stabilized by chemical crosslinking via thiol-acrylate Michael addition, leading to nanogels that degraded over time in water, as indicated by the DLS, cryo-TEM, and AFM measurements. Combining these findings with the lack of toxicity of the obtained systems towards human fibroblasts indicates their application potential.

Copolymerization kinetics of hydrogels based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates and acrylic acid using isoconversional methods

Monomers consisting of a methacrylate moiety attached to a short poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain can be polymerized to form hydrogels with several applications such as the removal of dyes and heavy metals from wastewater. In this study, the radical copolymerization kinetics of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl methacrylate (OEGMMA), and oligo(ethylene glycol) hydroxyethyl methacrylate (OEGHEMA), with acrylic acid (AAc) was investigated. In both cases, hydrogels were formed with cross-linked structure. The rate of polymerization and degree of conversion were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) operating under non-isothermal conditions, at several constant heating rates, or under isothermal conditions, at different constant reaction temperatures. Isoconversional kinetics were employed to estimate the effective activation energy of the polymerization. It was found that, in the homopolymer (POEGHEMA) bearing hydroxyl groups, polymerization under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions proceeds faster compared to the polymer with methoxy groups (POEGMMA). This behavior is attributed to the interaction between the hydrogen in the hydroxyl group with the carbonyl oxygen of the methacrylic ester, which results in a reduction of the electron density at the double bond and therefore increases its reactivity. Monomer–monomer association through hydroxyl groups results in initially lower activation energy of POEGHEMA. As polymerization proceeds, the existence of aggregated hydroxyl structures in the POEGHEMA macromolecular chains result in higher activation energies and a more abrupt increase in the conversion time curve. The addition of acrylic acid results in higher copolymerization rates for both methacrylates, with P(OEGMMA-AAc) affected more, since in the case of OEGHEMA specific functional (i.e. hydroxyl) groups already exist in the macromolecules. The association of monomer-AAc through hydroxyl‑carbonyl groups, results in lower activation energies for both copolymers compared to the corresponding homopolymers. The significant contribution of isoconversional methods in the study of polymerization kinetics of hydrogels it was thus verified.

Sandwich Immuno-RCA Assay with Single Molecule Counting Readout: The Importance of Biointerface Design.

The analysis of low-abundance protein molecules in human serum is reported based on counting of the individual affinity-captured analyte on a solid sensor surface, yielding a readout format similar to digital assays. In this approach, a sandwich immunoassay with rolling circle amplification (RCA) is used for single molecule detection (SMD) through associating the target analyte with spatially distinct bright spots observed by fluorescence microscopy. The unspecific interaction of the target analyte and other immunoassay constituents with the sensor surface is of particular interest in this work, as it ultimately limits the performance of this assay. It is minimized by the design of the respective biointerface and thiol self-assembled monolayer with oligoethylene (OEG) head groups, and a poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] (pHOEGMA) antifouling polymer brush was used for the immobilization of the capture antibody (cAb) on the sensor surface. The assay relying on fluorescent postlabeling of long single-stranded DNA that are grafted from the detection antibody (dAb) by RCA was established with the help of combined surface plasmon resonance and surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence monitoring of reaction kinetics. These techniques were employed for in situ measurements of conjugating of cAb to the sensor surface, tagging of short single-stranded DNA to dAb, affinity capture of the target analyte from the analyzed liquid sample, and the fluorescence readout of the RCA product. Through mitigation of adsorption of nontarget molecules on the sensor surface by tailoring of the antifouling biointerface, optimizing conjugation chemistry, and by implementing weak Coulombic repelling between dAb and the sensor surface, the limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was substantially improved. For the chosen interleukin-6 biomarker, SMD assay with LOD at a concentration of 4.3 fM was achieved for model (spiked) samples, and validation of the ability of detection of standard human serum samples is demonstrated.

Mass-Spectrometric Identification of Proteins and Pathways Responsible for Fouling on Poly(ethylene glycol) Methacrylate Polymer Brushes.

Prevention of fouling from proteins in blood plasma attracts significant efforts, and great progress is made in identifying surface coatings that display antifouling properties. In particular, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is widely used and dense PEG-like cylindrical brushes of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] (poly(OEGMA)) can drastically reduce blood plasma fouling. Herein, a comprehensive study of the variation of blood plasma fouling on this surface, including the analysis of the composition of protein deposits on poly(OEGMA) coatings after contact with blood plasma from many different donors, is reported. Correlation between the plasma fouling behavior and protein deposit composition points to the activation of the complement system as the main culprit of dramatically increased and accelerated deposition of blood plasma proteins on this type of antifouling coating, specifically through the classical pathway. These findings are consistent with observations on PEGylated drug carriers and highlight the importance of understanding the potential interactions between antifouling coatings and their environment.

A Nanocomposite Dynamic Covalent Cross-Linked Hydrogel Loaded with Fusidic Acid for Treating Antibiotic-Resistant Infected Wounds.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with high levels of morbidity and is considered a difficult-to-treat infection, often requiring nonstandard treatment regimens and antibiotics. Since over 40% of the emerging antibiotic compounds have insufficient solubility that limits their bioavailability and thus efficacy through oral or intravenous administration, it is crucial that alternative drug delivery products be developed for wound care applications. Existing effective treatments for soft tissue MRSA infections, such as fusidic acid (FA), which is typically administered orally, could also benefit from alternative routes of administration to improve local efficacy and bioavailability while reducing the required therapeutic dose. Herein, we report an antimicrobial poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA)-based composite hydrogel loaded with fusidic acid-encapsulating self-assembled polylactic acid-b-poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PLA-POEGMA) nanoparticles for the treatment of MRSA-infected skin wounds. The inclusion of the self-assembled nanoparticles (380 nm diameter when loaded with fusidic acid) does not alter the favorable mechanical properties and stability of the hydrogel in the context of its use as a wound dressing, while fusidic acid (FA) can be released from the hydrogel over ∼10 h via a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The antimicrobial studies demonstrate a clear zone of inhibition in vitro and a 1-2 order of magnitude inhibition of bacterial growth in vivo in an MRSA-infected full-thickness excisional murine wound model even at very low antibiotic doses. Our approach thus can both circumvent challenges in the local delivery of hydrophobic antimicrobial compounds and directly deliver antimicrobials into the wound to effectively combat methicillin-resistant infections using a fraction of the drug dose required using other clinically relevant strategies.

Hydroxypropyl methacrylate stars as versatile carriers of therapeutic agents

AbstractThree star‐like carriers with poly(hydroxy propyl methacrylate) (PHPMA) cores and poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) arms as nanocarriers were utilized for the encapsulation of rhodamine B, resveratrol, and curcumin. These drugs differ in hydrophobicity and therapeutic effects. The carriers had high encapsulation and loading efficiency (>95% and 10 wt%, respectively) and formed hydrogen bonds with the drugs. They were spherical in phosphate buffer saline and formed aggregates of various sizes (11–116 nm) depending on the star composition and the drug type. The carriers were stable for 2 months, but released different amounts of drugs afterwards, except for curcumin, which stayed entrapped. The curcumin‐loaded carriers also generated reactive oxygen species. These findings demonstrate the versatility of PHPMA/POEGMA stars as nanocarriers for diverse applications in nanomedicine.

Synthesis of Novel Nanocomposite Materials with Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity based on Poly(Ethylene Glycol Methacrylate)s with Ag, TiO2 or ZnO Nanoparticles

The aim of this investigation was to prepare novel hybrid materials with enhanced antimicrobial properties to be used in food preservation and packaging applications. Therefore, nanocomposite materials were synthesized based on two stimuli-responsive oligo(ethylene glycol methacrylate)s, namely PEGMA and PEGMEMA, the first bearing hydroxyl side groups with three different metal nanoparticles, i.e., Ag, TiO2 and ZnO. The in situ radical polymerization technique was employed to ensure good dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. FTIR spectra identified the successful preparation of the corresponding polymers and XRD scans revealed the presence of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. In the polymer bearing hydroxyl groups, the presence of Ag-NPs led to slightly lower thermal stability as measured by TGA, whereas both ZnO and TiO2 led to nanomaterials with better thermal stability. The antimicrobial activity of all materials was determined against the Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and the Gram-positive S. aureus, B. subtilis and B. cereus. PEGMEMA nanocomposites had much better antimicrobial activity compared to PEGMA. Ag NPs exhibited the best inhibition of microbial growth in both polymers with all four bacteria. Nanocomposites with TiO2 showed a very good inhibition percentage when used in PEGMEMA-based materials, while in PEGMA material, high antimicrobial activity was observed only against E. coli and B. subtilis, with moderate activity against B. cereus and almost absent activity against S. aureus. The presence of ZnO showed antimicrobial activity only in the case of PEGMEMA-based materials. Differences observed in the antibacterial activity of the polymers with the different nanoparticles could be attributed to the different structure of the polymers and possibly the more efficient release of the NPs.

The effect of comb length on the in vitro and in vivo properties of self-assembled poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate)-based block copolymer nanoparticles.

Comb copolymer analogues of poly(lactic acid)-polyethylene glycol block copolymers (PLA-b-PEG) offer potential to overcome the inherent chemistry and stability limitations of their linear block copolymer counterparts. Herein, we examine the differences between P(L)LA10K-b-PEG10K and linear-comb copolymer analogues thereof in which the linear PEG block is replaced by poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (POEGMA) blocks with different side chain (comb) lengths but the same overall molecular weight. P(L)LA10K-b-POEGMA47510K and P(L)LA10K-b-POEGMA200010K block copolymers were synthesized via activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) and fabricated into self-assembled nanoparticles using flash nanoprecipitation via confined impinging jet mixing. Linear-comb copolymer analogues based on PLA-b-POEGMA yielded smaller but still well-controlled nanoparticle sizes (88 ± 2 nm and 114 ± 1 nm respectively compared to 159 ± 2 nm for P(L)LA10K-b-PEG10K nanoparticles) that exhibited improved colloidal stability relative to linear copolymer-based nanoparticles over a 15 day incubation period while maintaining comparably high cytocompatibility, although the comb copolymer analogues had somewhat lower loading capacity for doxorubicin hydrochloride. Cell spheroid studies showed that the linear-comb copolymers promoted enhanced tumor transport and thus cell killing compared to conventional linear block copolymers. In vivo studies showed all NP types could passively accumulate within implanted CT26 tumors but with different accumulation profiles, with P(L)LA10K-b-POEGMA200010K NPs showing continuous accumulation throughout the full 24 h monitoring period whereas tumor accumulation of P(L)LA10K-b-POEGMA47510K NPs was significant only between 8 h and 24 h. Overall, the linear-comb copolymer analogues exhibited superior stability, biodistribution, spheroid penetration, and inherent tunability over linear NP counterparts.

Amide-Containing Bottlebrushes via Continuous-Flow Photoiniferter Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization: Micellization Behavior.

Herein, a series of ternary amphiphilic amide-containing bottlebrushes were synthesized by photoiniferter (PI-RAFT) polymerization of macromonomers in continuous-flow mode using trithiocarbonate as a chain transfer agent. Visible light-mediated polymerization of macromonomers under mild conditions enabled the preparation of thermoresponsive copolymers with low dispersity and high yields in a very short time, which is not typical for the classical reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer process. Methoxy oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and alkoxy(C12-C14) oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate were used as the basic monomers providing amphiphilic and thermoresponsive properties. The study investigated how modifying comonomers, acrylamide (AAm), methacrylamide (MAAm), and N-methylacrylamide (-MeAAm) affect the features of bottlebrush micelle formation, their critical micelle concentration, and loading capacity for pyrene, a hydrophobic drug model. The results showed that the process is scalable and can produce tens of grams of pure copolymer per day. The unmodified copolymer formed unimolecular micelles at temperatures below the LCST in aqueous solutions, as revealed by DLS and SLS data. The incorporation of AAm, MAAm, and N-MeAAm units resulted in an increase in micelle aggregation numbers. The resulting bottlebrushes formed uni- or bimolecular micelles at extremely low concentrations. These micelles possess a high capacity for loading pyrene, making them a promising choice for targeted drug delivery.

Amphiphilic properties of 2-(acrylamido)dodecanesulfonic acid and its water-soluble copolymers with alkoxyoligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylates

The surface-active properties (in aqueous solutions and water-hexane mixtures) of the amphiphilic sulfo-containing macromonomer 2-(acrylamido)dodecanesulfonic acid (AAС12SА) were studied; copolymers of this surfomer with oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylates were synthesized. Тhe effect of the content of sulfonic units in the obtained molecular brushes on their thermosensitive properties in water and water-salt solutions was determined.

Controlled synthesis and solution properties of copolymers of methacrylic esters and ammonium-containing methacrylamide

Copolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, and the cationic monomer N-methacryloylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-propylammonium bromide have been obtained by reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization in high yields and in a controlled mode. The influence of the composition of the obtained polymers on the solubility in water and organic solvents, distribution in the water-octanol system, and interfacial tension at the water-oil interface is shown. The presence of thermoresponsive properties for polymers in water was found, and their aggregation in aqueous media was also studied.

Efficient formation of poly(ethylene glycol) polymer brushes on gold electrodes via surface-initiated electrochemically mediated ATRP (SI-eATRP)

Electrochemically mediated surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-eATRP) is an interesting grafting from technique used to grow, in a controlled way, polymeric films from a wide range of surfaces, including metal substrates. Aqueous SI-eATRP offers an appealing strategy for the preparation of polymers by using water-soluble monomers, employing an oxidatively stable catalyst complex. The goal of this work is to tailor compact poly-(oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) (p-OEGMA) brushes on gold electrodes by combining the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing a suitable ATRP initiator molecule, and the SI-eATRP polymerization approach. We have investigated the effects of the SAM-initiator nature, the applied potential, and the duration of the polymerization process on the properties of the grafted p-OEGMA-brushes. In addition, we employed electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements to evidence the living character of the polymerization. The final properties of the tailored p-OEGMA-brush were studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, obtaining information on the electronic and ionic blocking behaviour of these films, under different experimental conditions. Further information on structural conformation, composition, and organization was obtained from different characterization techniques: IRRAS and XPS spectroscopies, contact angle measurements, and SEM and AFM microscopies. These techniques confirmed that an efficient formation of p-OEGMA-brushes via SI-eATRP was achieved. Thus, the designed SI-eATRP system offers an interesting option to functionalize a wide variety of substrates with water-soluble and biocompatible monomers. Such coatings present potential applications in various fields, including biomedical applications.

Coaxial extrusion bioprinting of hydrazone crosslinked POEGMA hydrogels: Optimizing needle geometry to achieve improved print quality

Facilitating effective mixing of two or more functional polymers remains a challenge when translating in situ-crosslinking click chemistry hydrogels to extrusion bioprinting applications. In this work, the conventional flush coaxial needle was modified to introduce a mixing region to promote the mixing of low-viscosity hydrazide and aldehyde-functionalized poly (oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) polymers that form dynamic hydrazone bonds upon crosslinking. The inclusion of the mixing region significantly reduced the spreading of the printed fibers and improved the homogeneity of both the printed hydrogel and the encapsulated cells. Computational modeling based on non-Newtonian fluid behavior in the mixing zone confirmed that increasing the length of the mixing zone improved the mixing efficiency, a finding supported by experimental printing results. As such, particularly with less viscous bioinks like the oligomeric hydrazide/aldehyde-functionalized POEGMA polymers used herein, the inclusion of this mixing region provides an effective means of printing functional precursor polymers that can chemically crosslink upon mixing.

An easy route for preparation of carboxylic acid and urea functional block copolymer as corrosion inhibitor

A novel POEGMA-b-(PMEEU-co-PMAA) (poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-b-poly((methacrylamidoethyl) ethylene urea)-co-poly(methacrylic acid) block copolymer has been synthesized by RAFT polymerization as a corrosion inhibitor. Structural characterization of the block copolymer was done by FTIR, 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. The carboxylic acid and cyclic urea units on the block copolymer exert a synergistic effect on corrosion inhibition through chelating of the metal ions or adsorption to the metal surface. Corrosion inhibition of SAE 1012 carbon steel in a 1 M HCl medium has been investigated in the presence of 5 mM polymer using both experimental (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization (TP), weight loss) and theoretical approaches. Also, SAE 1012 carbon steel surface morphology changes were followed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical techniques indicated that the presence of PMEEU-co-PMAA segments of the polymer in the acid solution inhibits corrosion of SAE 1012 carbon steel. The inhibition efficiency of the polymer was found to be about 85%. According to TP studies, PMEEU-co-PMAA segment acts as a mixed type corrosion inhibitor. The adsorption of PMEEU-co-PMAA molecules onto the metal surface follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The K ads value calculated from the equilibrium constant of the adsorption process reflects a strong interaction. SEM and EDAX studies provide evidence of PMEEU-co-PMAA adsorption on the metal surface.

Effect of amphiphilic copolymers of oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylates on the synthesis of N-(dibutylaminomethyl)methacrylamide in an aqueous-organic emulsion

The accelerating effect of adding a low molecular weight sulfonic acid surfactant (alkylbenzenesulfonic acid) and nonionic or containing sulfonic acid units amphiphilic copolymers of methoxy- and higher alkoxyoligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylates on the synthesis of a promising cationic monomer, N-(dibutylaminomethyl)methacrylamide, proceeding in an aqueous-amine emulsion, by the Mannich reaction, was revealed. The infl uence of the concentration of additives and the structure of copolymers on the catalytic effect is shown.

α-Substituted ketones as reagent for Passerini modification of carboxymethyl cellulose: Toward dually functionalized derivatives and thermo-sensitive chemical hydrogels

The present works describes the Passerini modification of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by using a library of nine α-substituted ketones derivatives, differing in their hydrophobicity and reactivity, conjointly with cyclohexyl isocyanide. The Passerini ligation, achieved in aqueous and mild conditions, was shown to be successful, leading to a large panel of dually functionalized CMC derivatives, in an eco-friendly manner. A particular attention was dedicated to the influence of the experimental parameters such as the stoichiometry, the nature of a co-solvent or the temperature, which allowed to tune the extent of modification. The reactivity of the ketone was proven to be governed by its i) compatibility with water, ii) sterical accessibility, and by iii) the presence of neighboring electron-withdrawing group. The resulting Passerini CMC products modified by methacrylate moieties (CMC-MA) were used as reactive macromonomer under a “grafting through” approach. The copolymerization of CMC-MA with oligoethylene glycol methacrylate (OEGMA) and diethylene glycol methacrylate (DEGMA) upon thermal radical reaction conditions enabled to generate tightly cross-linked chemical hydrogels, with a thermo-sensitive and thermo-reversible behavior, reflected by a macroscopical shrinkage/swelling response, and confirmed by SAXS analysis. Such chemical strategy paves the way toward multifunctional polysaccharide-based networks with potential utilizations as drug delivery devices, dye removals or actuators.

Dopamine-Based Copolymer Bottlebrushes for Functional Adhesives: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications in Surface Engineering of Antifouling Polyethylene.

Nonpolar materials like polyolefins are notoriously challenging substrates for surface modification. However, this challenge is not observed in nature. Barnacle shells and mussels, for example, utilize catechol-based chemistry to fasten themselves onto all kinds of materials, such as boat hulls or plastic waste. Here, a design is proposed, synthesized, and demonstrated for a class of catechol-containing copolymers (terpolymers) for surface functionalization of polyolefins. Dopamine methacrylamide (DOMA), a catechol-containing monomer, is incorporated into a polymer chain together with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate (BIEM). DOMA serves as adhesion points, BIEM provides functional sites for subsequent "grafting from" reactions, and MMA provides the possibility for concentration and conformation adjustment. First, the adhesive capabilities of DOMA are demonstrated by varying its content in the copolymer. Then, terpolymers are spin-coated on model Si substrates. Subsequently, the atom transfer initiator (ATRP) initiating group is used to graft a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) layer from the copolymers, with 40% DOMA content providing a coherent PMMA film. To demonstrate functionalization on a polyolefin substrate, the copolymer is spin-coated on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) substrates. A POEGMA layer is grafted from the ATRP initiator sites on the terpolymer chain on the HDPE films to provide antifouling characteristics. Static contact angle values and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirm the presence of POEGMA on the HDPE substrate. Finally, the anticipated antifouling functionality of grafted POEGMA is demonstrated by observing the inhibition of nonspecific adsorption of the fluorescein-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein. The poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) POEGMA layers grafted on 30% DOMA-containing copolymers on HDPE show optimal antifouling performance exhibiting a 95% reduction of BSA fluorescence compared to nonfunctionalized and surface-fouled polyethylene. These results demonstrate the successful utilization of catechol-based materials for functionalizing polyolefin surfaces.

Gene-repaired iPS cells as novel approach for patient with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Introduction: The benefits of patient's specific cell/gene therapy have been reported in relation to numerous genetic related disorders including osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In osteogenesis imperfecta particularly also a drug therapy based on the administration of bisphosphonates partially helped to ease the symptoms. Methods: In this controlled trial, fibroblasts derived from patient diagnosed with OI type II have been successfully reprogrammed into induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPSCs) using Yamanaka factors. Those cells were subjected to repair mutations found in the COL1A1 gene using homologous recombination (HR) approach facilitated with star polymer (STAR) as a carrier of the genetic material. Results: Delivery of the correct linear DNA fragment to the osteogenesis imperfecta patient's cells resulted in the repair of the DNA mutation with an 84% success rate. IPSCs showed 87% viability after STAR treatment and 82% with its polyplex. Discussion: The use of novel polymer Poly[N,N-Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate-co-Hydroxyl-Bearing Oligo(Ethylene Glycol) Methacrylate] Arms (P(DMAEMA-co-OEGMA-OH) with star-like structure has been shown as an efficient tool for nucleic acids delivery into cells (Funded by National Science Centre, Contract No. UMO-2020/37/N/NZ2/01125).

Multicellular Layered Nanofibrous Poly(Oligo Ethylene Glycol Methacrylate) (POEGMA)-Based Hydrogel Scaffolds via Reactive Cell Electrospinning.

While hydrogels are demonstrated to be effective scaffolds for soft tissue engineering, existing fabrication techniques pose limitations in terms of being able to reproduce both the micro/nanofibrous structures of native extracellular matrix as well as the spatial arrangement of different cell types inherent of more complex tissues. Herein, a reactive cell electrospinning strategy is described using hydrazide and aldehyde-functionalized poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) precursor polymers that can create nanofibrous hydrogel scaffolds with controllable local cell gradients using a sequential all-aqueous process that does not require additives or external energy. Cells can be encapsulated directly during the fabrication process in different layers within the scaffold, enabling localized segregation of different cell types within the structures without compromising their capacity to proliferate (≈4-fold increase in cell density over a 14 day incubation period). This sequential reactive electrospinning approach thus offers promise to generate coculture fibrous hydrogel networks in which both the nanoscale architecture and the cell distribution can be controlled, as it is essential to recreate more complex types of tissues.