Poly(N-Vinylpyrrolidone) based biomimetic hydrogels

Date
2012-03
Authors
Wilken, Celeste
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the modern, fast moving society of today, there is a strong focus in research placed on the elimination of lengthy invasive medical procedures. Target specific, and chemo selective treatments are of great interest. Various advantages of this include patient comfort and over and above all cost reduction of invasive procedures. This project focused on the development of an injectable gel system with the use of biocompatible polymers. A system is regarded as injectable if the functional polymers are in solution before administration, but gels when added together. In order to design this system, one has to make use of polymers with complimentary functional groups. Telechelic amino-functionalized PVP with narrow molecular weight distribution was synthesized via RAFT-mediated polymerization. The polymer was thoroughly characterized and cross-linked with Poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) to form a three dimensional polymeric network capable of absorbing and retaining large amounts of water and or biological fluid. Unfortunately the cross-linking needed to be performed in non-aqueous solution due to hydrolysis of maleic anhydride as a competing reaction in water. The gel was used in two model studies. The first model study focused on the attachment of a synthetic polypeptide onto the gel. The second model study evaluated the cytotoxicity effects of these gels when placed in direct contact with rodent cardiac myoblast and myocyte cells. These studies rendered promising results for future biological applications.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die moderne, vinnig bewegende samelewing van vandag, word daar in navorsing, 'n sterk fokus geplaas op die uitskakeling van lang indringende mediese prosedures. Doel spesifieke, en chemo selektiewe behandelings is van groot belang. Verskeie voordele van hierdie is die toename in gemak van die pasiënt en die verlaging van kostes verbonde aan hierdie indringende prosedures. Hierdie projek het gefokus op die ontwikkeling van 'n inspuitbare gel stelsel deur gebruik te maak van biologiese aanvaarbare polimere. ‘n Stelsel word beskou as inspuitbaar, indien die funksionele polimere in oplossing is voor toediening, maar wel kan gel wanneer bymekaar gevoeg word. Om hierdie tipe stelsel te kan ontwerp moet daar gebruik gemaak word van polimere met beskikbare funksionele groepe. Telecheliese amino-funksionele Poly(N-vinielpirollideen) met 'n smal molekulêre gewig verspreiding is gesintetiseer deur middel van RAFT-bemiddelde polimerisasie. Die polimeer is deeglik gekarakteriseer en daarna gekruis-koppel met P(STY-alt-MAnh) om 'n driedimensionele polimeriese netwerk te vorm. Hierdie netwerk is dan ook in staat om groot hoeveelhede water en/of biologiese vloeistof te absorbeer en te behou. Ongelukkig was hierdie reaksie uitgevoer in ʼn nie-waterige oplossing as gevolg van die hidrolise van Maleïne anhydride as 'n mededingende reaksie in water. Die gel is in twee model studies gebruik. Die eerste model-studie het gefokus op die beslaglegging van 'n sintetiese polipeptied op die gel. Die tweede model studie het die sitotoksiese uitwerking van hierdie gels in direkte kontak met knaagdier hart myoblast en lymfocyten selle geëvalueer. Hierdie studies het dan ook belowende resultate vir toekomstige biologiese toepassings gelewer.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Hydrogels, Polymers in medicine, Biomedical materials, Dissertations -- Polymer science, Theses -- Polymer science
Citation