Presented diploma thesis deals with preparation of bioresorbable polyurethanes (PUR) and their characterization. The theoretical part describes the feedstocks used for the PUR preparation and summarizes the knowledge about PUR used in medical applications. Experimental part presents characterization of bioresorbable PUR films prepared by reactive casting in one step without the use of organic solvents. The absence of solvents represents a great advantage due to their toxicity and subsequent removal from the resulting product. The synthesis of PUR was conducted under an inert atmosphere by polyaddition reaction of hydrophobic poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Synthesis under an inert atmosphere was necessary due to a side reaction of isocyanate with atmospheric humidity, which causes the formation of porous films instead of continuous ones. Prepared PUR films were characterized for different PCL/PEG ratios and different isocyanate index (ratio of NCO/OH reacted groups). PUR (isocyanate index 1.05) with PCL content 90 wt. % and higher demonstrated tought behavior in mechanical tests. Increase of isocyanate index and decrease of PCL content under 90 wt. % caused fragile sample behavior. The reason of such behavior was the different ability of PCL to crystallize in the structure of the polyurethane network. Increasing the PEG content has improved the ability of PUR films to absorb water and enhanced the rate of hydrolytic degradation. By adjusting the PCL/PEG ratio and the amount of isocyanate, solvent free bioresorbable PUR with suitable mechanical (flexibility, toughness) and physical properties (swelling, degradation) can be obtained. Prepared PUR films could be used in biomedicine e.g. as vascular grafts.

Yes / Itraconazole (ITR) is an antifungal drug with a limited bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility. In this study, ITR was used to investigate the impact of nanonisation and solid state change on drug’s apparent solubility and dissolution. A bottom up approach to the production of amorphous ITR nanoparticles (NPs), composed of 100% drug, with a particle diameter below 250 nm, using heat induced evaporative antisolvent nanoprecipitation (HIEAN) from acetone was developed. The NPs demonstrated improved solubility and dissolution in simulated gastrointestinal conditions when compared to amorphous ITR microparticles. NPs produced with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or its methoxylated derivative (MPEG) as a stabiliser enabled the production of smaller NPs with narrower particle size distribution and enhanced apparent solubility. MPEG stabilised NPs gave the greatest ITR supersaturation levels (up to 11.6 ± 0.5 μg/ml) in simulated gastric fluids. The stabilising polymer was in an amorphous state. Dynamic vapour sorption data indicated no solid state changes in NP samples with water vapour at 25 °C, while crystallisation was apparent at 50 °C. HIEAN proved to be an efficient method of production of amorphous ITR NPs, with or without addition of a polymeric stabiliser, with enhanced pharmaceutical properties. / Libyan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research through the Libyan Embassy, London and supported by the Science Foundation Ireland under Grant No. 12/RC/2275 (Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceuticals Centre).

The fields of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and stem cell engineering are rapidly growing. However, these fields must overcome several obstacles before they can make a significant impact on treating cellular disorders. Two major hurdles that must be addressed are: determining how to control the pluripotency of stem cells and developing systems for high-throughput culture of stem cells. The prospect of using a cell source capable of differentiating into cells of any tissue in the body (embryonic stem cells) has received enormous interest in recent years. The pluripotent attribute of embryonic stem cells seems ideal but developing methods to drive embryonic stem cells to specific lineages, including the hematopoietic lineage, is a complex process dependent on multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors including chemical, cellular, and environmental signaling. With regards to environmental signaling, the use of three-dimensional culture systems such as scaffolds and hydrogels, have been utilized in an attempt to drive lineage-specific differentiation in a synthetic, biomimetic microenvironment. To determine specific environmental factors responsible for hematopoietic differentiation a systematic biological and engineering process must be implemented. A biodegradable hydrogel composed of the hyaluronic acid, a polysaccharide abundant in the bone marrow microenvironment, and the synthetic polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) was formulated to culture mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Photoencapsulation of mESCs did not significantly decrease cellular viability or proliferation. The FACS data was inconclusive however, from gene expression studies, it was determined that the hydrogel culture system promoted differentiation of mESCs as evidenced by a down-regulation of the gene encoding for stem cell maintenance transcription factor, Oct-3/4. Furthermore, embryoid bodies, necessary for in vitro differentiation were observed in the hydrogel systems. Although an increase in the gene encoding for the cell surface marker, c-kit was up-regulated, the surface marker, sca-1 was not up-regulated. Up-regulation of both c-kit and sca-1 is necessary for the development of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Results indicate that the differentiation of mESCs into the hematopoietic lineage was unsuccessful but differentiation in these hydrogel systems did occur. Future cell marker and gene expression studies are necessary to determine which cell lineage the encapsulated mESCs are differentiating into before the effects of incorporating other environmental, cellular, and chemical factors can be investigated. / text

Analogous to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural tissues, properties of a tissue engineering scaffold direct cell behavior and thus regenerated tissue properties. These include both physical properties (e.g. morphology and modulus) and chemical properties (e.g. hydrophobicity, hydration and bioactivity). Notably, recent studies suggest that scaffold properties (e.g. modulus) may be as potent as growth factors in terms of directing stem cell fate. Thus, 3D scaffolds possessing specific properties modified for optimal cell regeneration have the potential to regenerate native-like tissues. Photopolymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA)-based hydrogels are frequently used as scaffolds for tissue engineering. They are ideal for controlled studies of cell-material interactions due to their poor protein adsorption in the absence of adhesive ligands thereby making them “biological blank slates”. However, their range of physical and chemical properties is limited. Thus, hydrogel scaffolds which maintain the benefits of PEG-DA but possess a broader set of tunable properties would allow the establishment of predictive relationships between scaffold properties, cell behavior and regenerated tissue properties. Towards this goal, this work describes a series of unique hybrid inorganic-organic hydrogel scaffolds prepared using different solvents and also in the form of continuous gradients. Properties relevant to tissue regeneration were investigated including: swelling, morphology, modulus, degradation rates, bioactivity, cytocompatibility, and protein adhesion. These scaffolds were based on the incorporation of hydrophobic, bioactive and osteoinductive methacrylated star polydimethylsiloxane (PDMSstar-MA) [“inorganic component”] into hydrophilic PEG-DA [“organic component”]. The following parameters were varied: molecular weight (Mn) of PEG-DA (Mn = 3k & 6k g/mol) and PDMSstar-MA (Mn = 1.8k, 7k, 14k), ratio of PDMSstar-MA to PEG-DA (0:100 to 20:80), total macromer concentration (5 to 20 wt%) and utilizing either water or dichloromethane (DCM) fabrication solvent. The use of DCM produced solvent induced phase separation (SIPS) resulting in scaffolds with macroporous morphologies, enhanced modulus and a more homogenous distribution of the PDMSstar-MA component throughout. These hybrid hydrogel scaffolds were prepared in the form of continuous gradients such that a single scaffold contains spatially varied chemical and physical properties. Thus, cell-material interaction studies may be conducted more rapidly at different “zones” defined along the gradient. These gradients are also expected to benefit the regeneration of the osteochondral interface, an interfacial tissue that gradually transitions in tissue type. The final aspect of this work was focused on enhancing the osteogenic potential of PDMS via functionalization with amine and phosphonate. Both amine and phosphonate moieties have demonstrated bioactivity. Thus, it was expected that these properties will be enhanced for amine and phosphonate functionalized PDMS. The subsequent incorporation of these PDMS-based macromers into the previously described PEG-DA scaffold system is expected to be valuable for osteochondral tissue regeneration.

Current synthetic vascular grafts have high failure rates in small-diameter (<6 mm) applications due to inadequate cell-material interactions and poor matching of arterial biomechanical properties. To address this, we have developed a multilayer vascular graft design with a non-thrombogenic inner layer that promotes endothelial cell (EC) interactions and a reinforcing layer with tunable biomechanical properties. The blood-contacting layer of the graft is based on a Streptococcal collagen-like protein (Scl2-1). Scl2-1 has the triple helical structure of collagen, but it is a non-thrombogenic protein that can be modified to have selective cell adhesion. For this application, Scl2-2 has been modified from Scl2-1 to contain integrin binding sites that promote EC adhesion. We have developed the methodology to incorporate Scl2 proteins into a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel matrix. PEG-Scl2 hydrogels facilitate optimization of both bioactivity and substrate modulus to offer unique control over graft endothelialization. However, scaffold properties that promote endothelialization may not be consistent with the mechanical properties necessary to withstand physiological loading. To address this issue, we have reinforced PEG-Scl2-2 hydrogels with an electrospun polyurethane mesh. This multilayer vascular graft design decouples requisite mechanical properties from endothelialization processes and permits optimization of both design goals. We have confirmed the thromboresistance of PEG-Scl2-2 hydrogels in a series of whole blood tests in vitro as well as in a porcine carotid artery model. Additionally, we have shown that the electrospun mesh biomechanical properties can be tuned over a wide range to achieve comparable properties to current autologous grafts. Traditional acrylate-derivatized PEG (PEGDA) hydrogels were replaced with PEG diacrylamide hydrogels with similar properties to increase biostability for long-term implantation. These findings indicate that this multilayer design shows promise for vascular graft applications. As vascular graft endothelialization can significantly improve success rates, the ability to alter cell-material interactions through manipulations in PEG-Scl2-2 hydrogel properties was studied extensively. By reducing Scl2-2 functionalization density and utilizing a biostable PEG functionalization linker, Acrylamide-PEG-I, significantly improved initial EC adhesion was achieved that was maintained over 6 weeks of swelling in vitro. Additionally, increases in Scl2-2 concentration and in hydrogel modulus provided increased EC interactions. It was found that PEG-Scl2-2 hydrogels promoted enhanced EC proliferation over 1 week compared to PEG-collagen gels. In summary, we have developed a vascular graft with a biostable, non-thrombogenic intimal layer that promotes EC adhesion and migration while providing biomechanical properties comparable to current autologous grafts. This design demonstrates great potential as an off-the-shelf graft for small diameter arterial prostheses that improves upon current clinically available options.

Nowadays, cancer treatment and tissue regeneration have attracted large amount of attention. Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWNT) possess large surface area and outstanding optical and electrical performance, making it a promising component in cancer therapy and tissue reengineering systems. In this study, four disease treating systems based on SWNT are developed. They are pH-sensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-doxorubicin(PEG-DOX)@SWNT drug release system, temperature sensitive SWNT hydrogel, SWNT based biocompatible magnetic hydrogel and biocompatible SWNT-gelatin-F127-cysteamine hydrogel for tissue engineering. The successfully synthesized target compounds are characterized by FTIR. The in vitro release of drugs from the drug release systems is evaluated upon changes of pH values and the laser scanning. The effect of cancer treatment systems on specific kind of cells are examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results indicate that all of the four systems show great potential in the biomedical applications especially in disease therapy applications.

This thesis describes the synthesis of soluble Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM-1), fluoro-endcapped PIM-1 (F-PIM-1) and copolymers of F-PIM-1 with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MeOPEG). The main aim of the project was to alter the porosity of microporous PIM-1 in three ways: (a) synthesis of copolymers of F-PIM-1 with MeOPEG (b) blending of PIM-1 with MeOPEG in various proportions; and (c) adsorption of MeOPEG from aqueous solution byPIM-1. PIM-1 and F-PIM-1 were synthesized by step growth polymerization of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile (TFTPN) with 5,5',6,6'-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobisindane (THSB), using the conventional method and a newly reported high shear mixing method. F-PIM-1 oligomers were then coupled to poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MeOPEG). The products were analyzed by NMR, IR, MALDI ToF MSS, TGA and polystyrene based GPC as well as multidetector GPC techniques. The high shear technique generally produced high molar mass products and yields. This method was also more successful for copolymerization.Blending of PIM-1 and MeOPEG in different proportions resulted in macrophase separation. Copolymer products were used to facilitate mixing of blends (as compatibilizers), however only 5% of MeOPEG could be solubilised into a PIM-1 phase. The effect of compatibilizer was found to be affected by interaction between PIM-1 and copolymer. However, N2 adsorption studies showed that after thermal removal of MeOPEG, PIM-1 regained stable porosity with significant BET surface area.Fluorescence studies were aimed at applications of PIM-1 and copolymers in sensors. PIM-1 and copolymers, spin-coated on the polyester-based substrate Melinex, were studied with and without methanol treatment in an environment of different solvent vapours. The effect of time and volume on wavelength shift and change in intensity was studied. Polar solvents tended to cause a red shift with decrease in intensity while less polar solvents behaved otherwise. Based on fluorescence experiments, solvent profiles for PIM-1 and copolymers were established.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Stiffening and softening of extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical processes governing many aspects of biological processes. The most common practice used to investigate these processes is seeding cells on two-dimensional (2D) surfaces of varying stiffness. In recent years, cell-laden three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with controllable properties are also increasingly used. However, current 2D and 3D culture platforms do not permit spatiotemporal controls over material properties that could influence tissue processes. To address this issue, four-dimensional (4D) hydrogels (i.e., 3D materials permitting time-dependent control of matrix properties) are proposed to recapitulate dynamic changes of ECM properties. The goal of this thesis was to exploit orthogonal enzymatic reactions for on-demand stiffening and/or softening of cell-laden hydrogels. The first objective was to establish cytocompatible hydrogels permitting enzymatic crosslinking and stiffening using enzymes with orthogonal reactivity. Sortase A (SrtA) and mushroom tyrosinase (MT) were used sequentially to achieve initial gelation and on-demand stiffening. In addition, hydrogels permitting reversible stiffening through SrtA-mediated peptide ligation were established. Specifically, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-peptide hydrogels were fabricated with peptide linkers containing pendent SrtA substrates. The hydrogels were stiffened through incubation with SrtA, whereas gel softening was achieved subsequently via addition of SrtA and soluble glycine substrate. The second objective was to investigate the role of dynamic matrix stiffening on pancreatic cancer cell survival, spheroid formation, and drug responsiveness. The crosslinking of PEG-peptide hydrogels was dynamically tuned to evaluate the effect of matrix stiffness on cell viability and function. Specifically, dynamic matrix stiffening inhibited cell proliferation and spheroid formation, while softening the cell-laden hydrogels led to significant increase in spheroid sizes. Matrix stiffness also altered the expression of chemoresistance markers and responsiveness of cancer cells to gemcitabine treatment. markers and responsiveness of cancer cells to gemcitabine treatment.

Electrochemical biosensors have been used to detect biomarkers sensitively at low limits of detection. The organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) is a special class of electrochemical biosensors characteristically known for its intrinsic amplification abilities. Nevertheless, if the biosensor is to be used with real clinical samples a strategy aiming to increase the specificity of the device other than the dependance on the respective biorecognition unit is necessary to minimize, if not eliminate, interference from foulants in complex biological media. In this work we test the antifouling performance of several Poly(ethylene glycol) based SAMs using Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We also evaluate the overall performance of the device and its ability to detect total α-synuclein, its aggregate and phosphorylated forms spiked in heat-inactivated human serum. Limits of detection in the fM and aM ranges were achieved.

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