Block copolymer composition drives function of self-assembled nanoparticles for delivery of small-molecule cargo.

Nanoparticles are useful for the delivery of small molecule therapeutics, increasing their solubility, residence time, and stability. Here, we used organocatalytic ring opening polymerization to produce amphiphilic block copolymers for the formation of nanoparticle drug carriers with enhanced stability, cargo encapsulation, and sustained delivery. These polymers comprised blocks of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(valerolactone) (PVL), and poly(lactide) (PLA).

Ultrasound-triggered antibiotic release from PEEK clips to prevent spinal fusion infection: Initial evaluations.

Despite aggressive peri-operative antibiotic treatments, up to 10% of patients undergoing instrumented spinal surgery develop an infection. Like most implant-associated infections, spinal infections persist through colonization and biofilm formation on spinal instrumentation, which can include metal screws and rods for fixation and an intervertebral cage commonly comprised of polyether ether ketone (PEEK). We have designed a PEEK antibiotic reservoir that would clip to the metal fixation rod and that would achieve slow antibiotic release over several days, followed by a bolus release of antibiotics triggered by ultrasound (US) rupture of a reservoir membrane.

Characterization of Outer Insulation in Long-Term-Implanted Leads.

Success of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators may be limited by premature lead failure. Lead insulation polymers, such as polyurethane (PU) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), are reported to degrade over time in vivo. PU is known to undergo oxidation, whereas PDMS undergoes surface hydrolysis.

Scalable manufacturing of biomimetic moldable hydrogels for industrial applications.

Hydrogels are a class of soft material that is exploited in many, often completely disparate, industrial applications, on account of their unique and tunable properties. Advances in soft material design are yielding next-generation moldable hydrogels that address engineering criteria in several industrial settings such as complex viscosity modifiers, hydraulic or injection fluids, and sprayable carriers. Industrial implementation of these viscoelastic materials requires extreme volumes of material, upwards of several hundred million gallons per year.