Phospholipid based polymer as drug release coating for cardiovascular device

Polybetaines in Biomedical Applications

Polybetaines, that have moieties bearing both cationic (quaternary ammonium group) and anionic groups (carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate/phosphinate/phosphonate groups) situated in the same structural unit represent an important class of smart polymers with unique and specific properties, belonging to the family of zwitterionic materials. According to the anionic groups, polybetaines can be divided into three major classes: poly(carboxybetaines), poly(sulfobetaines) and poly(phosphobetaines). The structural diversity of polybetaines and their special properties such as, antifouling, antimicrobial, strong hydration properties and good biocompatibility lead to their use in nanotechnology, biological and medical fields, water remediation, hydrometallurgy and the oil industry. In this review we aimed to highlight the recent developments achieved in the field of biomedical applications of polybetaines such as: antifouling, antimicrobial and implant coatings, wound healing and drug delivery systems.

Layer by layer self-assembly of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine] multilayer via the ionic complexation with zirconium

Zirconium-phosphonate (Zr-P) ionic complexation chemistry is explored as a new approach to fabricate poly[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine] (PMPC) multilayer film by layer-by-layer self-assembly method. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and optical ellipsometry measurements demonstrated that PMPC layer can be fully absorbed on each Zr(4+) layer. The thickness of the multilayer film with a good linear relationship was followed by the ellipsometry in situ adlayer characterization. The influence of pH of the PMPC and Zr(4+) solutions on the multilayer deposition were investigated by optical ellipsometry. QCM-D results indicated that the multilayer film is stable in a PBS flowing chamber at a high flow rate of 5.2×10(-3)m/s. The ellipsometry data demonstrated that 67.2% of the film still remained on the silicon wafer after being strong shaken in PBS at 80 rpm for 12h. The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) on the PMPC surface was monitored by the QCM-D and spectroscopic ellipsometry, and the results showed the multilayer film have excellent protein resistance.

Lipid-like Diblock Copolymer as an Additive for Improving the Blood Compatibility of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)

To optimize the blood biocompatibility of poly(lactide-coglycolide) (PLGA), lipid-like diblock copolymer poly(DL-lactide)-block-poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PLA-b-PMPC) was employed as a surface-modifying additive. The blends of PLGA and PLA-b-PMPC coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) membranes were prepared by dip-coating. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy showed the incorporation of phosphorylcoline groups in the blends and contact angle results indicated that the hydrophilicity of the blends improved with increasing PLA-b-PMPC content. The plasma recalcification time of polymer coating was prolonged and the amount of adherent platelets on coating surface was decreased by introducing PLA-b-PMPC. The adhesion of polymer coating on the gold electrode of quartz crystal microbalance was monitored and PLGA containing PLA-b-PMPC additives showed excellent polymer—metal adhesion. These results show that the blends of PLGA and lipid-like PLA-b-PMPC could be used as high performance biodegradable polymer coatings for blood contact medical devices.

A novel biomimetic polymer as amphiphilic surfactant for soluble and biocompatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

Novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer, cholesterol-end-capped poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (CPMPC), which has poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) as hydrophilic segment and cholesterol as hydrophobic segment, was specially designed as amphiphilic surfactant to achieve water-soluble and biocompatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The pristine CNTs were facilely dispersed via non-covalently binding the zwitterionic phosphorylcholine-based amphiphile onto the surfaces of the CNTs. It is interesting to find that CPMPC shows better CNTs solubilizing ability compared with the surfactant of pyrene-end-capped poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PPMPC). The biocompatibility of the CPMPC stabilized CNTs was evaluated using cholesterol-end-capped poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (CPDMAEMA), cholesterol-end-capped poly(acrylic acid) (CPAA) and cholesterol-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (CPEG) as surfactants for CNTs as controls. While CPDMAEMA stabilized CNTs and CPAA stabilized CNTs showed obvious cytotoxicity, cytotoxicity of this novel zwitterionic phosphorylcholine-based amphiphile stabilized CNTs was not observed as indicated by cell culture. The biocompatible CNTs represent an excellent nano-object for potential biomedical applications.

Zwitterionic phosphorylcholine as a better ligand for stabilizing large biocompatible gold nanoparticles

Zwitterionic phosphorylcholine showed better stabilization than oligo(ethylene glycol) in protecting big gold nanoparticles.

Film from peroxidation of an amino phospholipid and its biocompatibility

A new kind of phospholipid product with fluorescence was derived from autoxidation of an aminophospholipid, L-alpha-phosphatidylethanolamine dilinoleoyl in solid film state. Atomic force microscopy showed that the film product was composed of round and elliptical vesicles with diameters of about 20-45 nm. The product was difficult to dissolve in water and most organic solvents. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state (13)C NMR, and solid-state (31)P NMR indicated that the unsaturated double carbon bond decreased with the reaction, and polymerization within/between phospholipid molecules occurred. Endothelial cells from human vein seeded onto the film showed the highest proliferating activity compared with seeding onto Corning culture plate, glass plate, or phospholipid film with phosphorylcholine head group, as evaluated by 3-(4,5-timethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay (p < 0.001). The hemocompatibility of the film was also assessed by platelet adhesion and protein adsorption. The results suggest that the product has potential applications as a new biomaterial coating.

Heparin-loaded zein microsphere film and hemocompatibility

Zein was studied as a drug-eluting coating film composed of zein microspheres for cardiovascular devices (e.g. stent). In vitro 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis showed that both zein film and its degraded product had better biocompatibility compared with Corning culture plate on the growth of human umbilical veins endothelial cells (HUVECs, p<0.05, n=6), and the effect of zein degraded product on HUVECs was dose-dependent. The best result was obtained at 0.3 mg/ml of the addition. The encapsulation efficiency of heparin and heparin loading varied with the amount of both zein and heparin, and the highest encapsulation efficiency (heparin 1.33 mg/ml and zein 16 mg/ml) was 22.77+/-1.33% (n=3). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation indicated that the zein film was made of microspheres in diameter from nano- to micrometer, which could be controlled. Sizes of heparin-loaded zein microspheres changed before and after release of heparin because of conglutination among zein microspheres. Release rate of heparin from microsphere film reached to 33.5+/-1.2% within 12 h, and began to get into subsequent "slow release" phase; about 55% of the entrapped heparin was released after 20 days. Both zein film and heparin-loaded zein microsphere film were effective in suppressing platelet adhesion, and the heparin-loaded film showed a better anticoagulation as determined with thrombin time (TT) assay. These results suggest that zein film could be used directly as a new type of coating material for its better biocompatibility with HUVECs. Moreover, the heparin-loaded zein microsphere film can significantly improve the hemocompatibility.

The effect of formation of the liquid crystalline phase on the blood compatibility of a cholesterol modified silicone

Cholesterol modified silicones were synthesized by grafting copolymerization of 10-Cholesteryloxydecanol onto polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed the chemical structures of polymers. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM) results indicated the mesogenic properties of those polymers. The modified silicone with 45% 10-Cholesteryloxydecanyl (SC45) indicated obvious thermotropic liquid crystalline transform at about 122-124.9 degrees C. The thermotropic liquid crystalline phase could be retained at room temperature via a special annealing/quenching process. The anneal-quenched film (SC45C) formed continuous liquid crystalline phase, whereas the unannealed films presented amorphous structure. The blood compatibility of the coatings was assessed from SEM observation of the platelet's adhesion to coating surface and plasma recalcification time (PRT). The results revealed that the formation of the liquid crystalline phase could greatly improve the in vitro blood compatibility of the materials. The positive results of liquid crystalline onto haemocompatibility allow broad potential in biomaterials.

Novel Biomimetic Surfactant: Synthesis and Micellar Characteristics

Novel biomimetic surfactants based on cholesterol as the hydrophobic segment and poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine] (pMPC) as the hydrophilic segment were synthesized in the present study by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) using a cholesterol-based macroinitiator. The association behavior of cholesterol-block-poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine] (Chol-pMPCs) in aqueous solution was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence probe technique, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The (1)H NMR spectrum of the polymer in CD(3)OD showed both the cholesterol group and the phosphorylcholine group while the cholesterol group did not appeared in the (1)H NMR spectrum of the polymer in D(2)O, which implied the formation of a micelle structure. Fluorescence excitation spectra of a pyrene probe solubilized in the aggregates of Chol-pMPCs suggested the presence of a critical micelle concentration (cmc) in water. The critical micelle concentrations of the polymers CMPC10, CMPC20 and CMPC40 were determined to be 7.27 x 10(-3), 13.47 x 10(-3), and 20.77 x 10(-3) mg . mL(-1), respectively. AFM images of the aggregates on mica suggested that the pMPC block formed the biocompatible micelle coronas and the cholesterol block formed the hydrophobic micelle cores. These new biomimetic diblock copolymers were evaluated as "stealthy" nanocapsules for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. The anti-cancer drug adriamycin (ADR) was chosen as a hydrophobic drug to be incorporated into the inner core of the micelles and the morphology of the drug-loaded micelles were observed by AFM.