Polymer brushes and their possible applications in artificial cilia research

Parallel evolution of polymer chemistry and immunology: Integrating mechanistic biology with materials design

To develop new therapeutics involves the interaction of multiple disciplines to yield safe, functional devices and formulations. Regardless of drug function and potency, administration with controlled timing, dosing, and targeting is required to properly treat or regulate health and disease. Delivery approaches can be optimized through advances in materials science, clinical testing, and basic biology and immunology. Presently, laboratories focused on developing these technologies are composed of, or collaborate with, chemists, biologists, materials scientists, engineers, and physicians to understand the way our body interacts with drug delivery devices, and how to synthesize new, rationally designed materials to improve targeted and controlled drug delivery. In this review, we discuss both device-based and micro/nanoparticle-based materials in the clinic, our biologic understanding of how our immune system interacts with these materials, how this diverse set of immune cells has become a target and variable in drug delivery design, and new directions in polymer chemistry to address these interactions and further our advances in medical therapeutics.

Bioinspired EVAL membrane modified with cilia-like structures showing simultaneously enhanced permeability and antifouling properties

A simple and effective strategy to simultaneously enhance the permeability and antifouling properties of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVAL) membrane was developed based on the bioinspired natural cleaner, cilia. Taking clue from the self-cleaning effect of cilia, supramolecular polyrotaxanes (PRs) with sliding and rotating cyclic molecules along linear chains were synthesized using azide-alkyne click chemistry. Cilia-like PRs were incorporated into EVAL matrix in the fabrication of modified EVAL membranes. Cilia-like structures protruding from the membrane surface have been observed by SEM, TEM and AFM. By imitating natural ciliary movements, these structures provided a proactive self-cleaning system to remove the foulants. The introduction of cilia-like PRs enhanced the surface roughness and hydrophilicity, and significantly enhanced permeability by 55.3% compared to raw EVAL membrane. Moreover, the membrane modified with cilia-like PRs showed an excellent antifouling property with a lower water flux decline (12.6%) and higher water flux recovery (94%) in dynamic fouling tests. Furthermore, this modified membrane develops the scope of bioinspired membranes, inspiring more attractive potential applications in self-cleaning materials, dynamic membranes and supramolecular machines.