Novelty in the development of biodegradable polymer coatings for biomedical devices: paclitaxel grafting on PDMMLA derivatives.

Biocompatible and biodegradable polymers are widely used in the medical field. In some cases, the biopolymer is accompanied by an active drug, which is delivered locally in a controlled manner in order to improve the healing conditions. Poly([R,S]-3,3-dimethylmalic acid) (PDMMLA) is a synthetic amphiphilic biodegradable polymer, which unlike PLA, can be chemically modified to adapt hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, degradation kinetics, and physicochemical and biological properties.

Chemical grafting of cholesterol on monomer and PDMMLA polymers, a step towards the development of new polymers for biomedical applications.

Racemic α,α,β-trisubstituted β-lactones are the monomer units of poly((,)-3,3-dimethylmalic acid) (PDMMLA) derivatives, new biopolyesters showing great potential for biomedical applications. Using different groups during the synthesis of these β-lactones allows a tailored synthesis of PDMMLA copolymers with adjustable hydrophilic/phobic ratio. The degradation kinetics of the employed material is one of the most important criteria in the development of bioresorbable implants.

Small changes in PDMMLA structure influence the adsorption behavior of ECM proteins and syndecan-4 on PDMMLA derivative surfaces: Experimental validation by tensiometric surface force measurements.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death around the world according to the World Health Organization. In-stent restenosis is an inflammatory response of the immune system to endovascular stent implantation in atherosclerotic patients. Biocompatible and biodegradable polymers are of great interest in this field in order to limit the side effects of stent treatments.

Fertility Signaling and Partitioning of Reproduction in the Ant Neoponera apicalis.

All individuals in social insect colonies benefit from being informed about the presence and fertility state of reproducers. This allows the established reproductive individuals to maintain their reproductive monopoly without the need for physical control, and the non-reproductive individuals to make appropriate reproductive choices. Here, we studied whether fertility signaling is responsible for the partitioning of reproduction in the ant Neoponera apicalis.

Solubilization of water-insoluble drugs due to random amphiphilic and degradable poly(dimethylmalic acid) derivatives.

Amphotericin B (AmB) and clofazimine are potent drugs hindered by their low water solubilities and their toxicities. Carriers able to increase their apparent water solubilities are needed for these drugs and for other molecules with similar properties. Random amphiphilic copolymers derived from poly(dimethylmalic acid) were obtained using different hydrophobization ratios and side group sizes.

Films of dextran-graft-polybutylmethacrylate to enhance endothelialization of materials.

We have synthesized new structures obtained from amphiphilic copolymers of dextran and polybutylmethacrylate with the aim of endothelialization of biomaterials. Grafting of butylmethacrylate onto dextran has been carried out using ceric ammonium nitrate as initiator. Three copolymers were obtained (11, 30 and 37 wt.

Polymeric micelles and nanoparticles from block and statistical poly((RS)-3,3-dimethylmalic acid) derivatives: preparation and characterization.

Amphiphilic and biodegradable micelles and nanoparticles designed as potential drug carriers were prepared from biodegradable statistical and block copolyesters obtained by a living anionic ring-opening process. These novel materials display amphiphilic properties arising from the joint presence of hydrophilic poly((RS)-3,3-dimethylmalic acid) and hydrophobic poly(hexyl (RS)-3,3-dimethylmalate) segments. Micelles obtained from a well-defined block copolymer have been characterized by their critical aggregation concentration, and nanoparticles derived from statistical copolymer have been analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).