The influence of hydrophobicity on the internalization of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) remains poorly investigated. The hydrophobicity of poly(L-lactide) was increased by copolymerization with cell-membrane-lipid components, and this significantly enhanced the uptake of NPs up to 60% in the human cervical cancer cell line in comparison to unmodified poly(L-lactide) NPs.

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Combining mechanical properties with enhanced cell interaction is highly desirable in a biomaterial. In this study, a new paradigm for enhancing the mechanical properties of segmented polyurethanes (SPUs) through solution blending with a biopolymer is presented. This noncovalent approach is based on the premise that molecular level blending of SPUs rich in hydrogen bonding (H bonding) domains with a biopolymer capable of H bonding will promote H-bond bridges between the components, leading to molecular annealing and modification of the physicochemical properties of the SPU. We demonstrate that by solution-blending solubilized elastin with a triblock copolymer-derived SPU, a 5-fold increase in tensile modulus of electrospun constructs of the SPU can be achieved, with concomitant enhancement in human endothelial cell attachment. Spectroscopic and calorimetric analysis confirm the role of H bonding in the enhancement, thus providing the impetus to further explore blending with biopolymers as a means of improving the property profiles of synthetic polymeric biomaterials.

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Abstract:Degradable aliphatic polyesters such as poly(lactic acid) are widely used in biomedical applications, however, they lack functional moieties along the polymer backbone that are amenable for functionalization reactions or could be the basis for interactions with biological systems. Here we present a straightforward route for the synthesis of functional α-ω epoxyesters as comonomers for lactide polymerization. Salient features of these highly functionalized epoxides are versatility in functionality and a short synthetic route of less than four steps. The α-ω epoxyesters presented serve as a means to introduce carboxylic acid and amine functional groups into poly(lactic acid) polymers via ring-opening copolymerization.