Triple Functional AB2 Unit-Modulated Facile Preparation of Bioreducible Hyperbranched Copolymers

Facile preparation of hyperbranched polymers (HPs) has been advanced tremendously by the use of either various multifunctional agent-mediated controlled living radical polymerizations or a highly reactive AB_x unit-modulated self-stepwise polymerizations. However, it remains, to our knowledge, a significant challenge to prepare HPs with simultaneously precisely controlled degree of branching (DB) and biorelevant signal-triggered degradation property for controlled release applications due to the respective limitations of the aforementioned two strategies. For this purpose, a triple functional AB₂ unit, A-SS-B₂ chain transfer agent (AB₂ CTA), that integrates the merits of both multifunctional agents and highly reactive AB_x units was designed and synthesized successfully to include a disulfide bond for reduction-triggered polymer degradation toward promoted intracellular release of encapsulated cargoes, a trithiocarbonate group for a universal reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of any vinyl-based monomer, and three terminal groups consisting of one azide and two alkyne functions for the generation of hyperbranched topology via a self-click coupling-based polymerization. A subsequent self-click polymerization of the resulting AB₂ CTA by click coupling in the presence of CuSO₄·5H₂O and sodium ascorbate (NaVc) generated a hyperbranched polymer template (HPT) with precisely modulated DB and a plurality of CTA units for a universal reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of any vinyl-containing monomer. The HPT was next used as a multimacro-CTA for RAFT polymerization of a typical hydrophilic monomer, oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA), to demonstrate the potential of this HPT for a robust and facile production of bioreducible hyperbranched polymers for controlled release applications. The synthesized HPT-4-POEGMA can form unimolecular micelles with enhanced stability due to the hyperbranched structure, and the size of micelles varied in the range from 82.4 to 140.3 nm by a modulation of the molar feed ratio of monomer to HPT and polymerization time. More importantly, HPT-POEGMA micelles incubated with 10 mM glutathione (GSH) showed reduction-triggered cleavage of the disulfide links and polymer degradation for promoted intracellular doxorubicin (DOX) release and enhanced therapeutic efficiency. Taken together, this triple functional AB₂ CTA provided a powerful means for the facile preparation of bioreducible hyperbranched polymers with precisely controlled DB for controlled release applications.

Biodegradable inorganic-organic hybrids of methacrylate star polymers for bone regeneration

Hybrids that are molecular scale co-networks of organic and inorganic components are promising biomaterials, improving the brittleness of bioactive glass and the strength of polymers. Methacrylate polymers have high potential as the organic source for hybrids since they can be produced, through controlled polymerization, with sophisticated polymer architectures that can bond to silicate networks. Previous studies showed the mechanical properties of hybrids can be modified by polymer architecture and molar mass (MM). However, biodegradability is critical if hybrids are to be used as tissue engineering scaffolds, since the templates must be remodelled by host tissue. Degradation by-products have to either completely biodegrade or be excreted by the kidneys. Enzyme, or bio-degradation is preferred to hydrolysis by water uptake as it is expected to give a more controlled degradation rate. Here, branched and star shaped poly(methyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (poly(MMA-co-TMSPMA)) were synthesized with disulphide based dimethacrylate (DSDMA) as a biodegradable branching agent. Biodegradability was confirmed by exposing the copolymers to glutathione, a tripeptide which is known to cleave disulphide bonds. Cleaved parts of the star polymer from the hybrid system were detected after 2weeks of immersion in glutathione solution, and MM was under threshold of kidney filtration. The presence of the branching agent did not reduce the mechanical properties of the hybrids and bone progenitor cells attached on the hybrids in vitro. Incorporation of the DSDMA branching agent has opened more possibilities to design biodegradable methacrylate polymer based hybrids for regenerative medicine.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Bioactive glasses can regenerate bone but are brittle. Hybrids can overcome this problem as intimate interactions between glass and polymer creates synergetic properties. Implants have previously been made with synthetic polymers that degrade by water, however, they degrade catastrophically, causing rapid loss of strength. Polymers that degrade by biological agents may degrade at a more controlled rate, which should give time for tissue repair and transfer of load. Previously, hybrids made with star shaped poly(methyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (p(MMA-co-TMSPMA)) showed enhanced properties. However, methacrylates are not bio-degradable. Here, star shaped p(MMA-co-TMSPMA) was synthesized with a core that can be cleaved by glutathione, a tripeptide. On exposure to glutathione, the hybrid degraded, producing products with molecular weights below the kidney filtration threshold.

Modular segmented hyperbranched copolymers

Modular segmented hyperbranched polymers, amenable to facile post-polymerization functionalization, were created via two distinct approaches.