Imprinting of metal receptors into multilayer polyelectrolyte films: fabrication and applications in marine antifouling.

Polymeric films constructed using the layer-by-layer (LbL) fabrication process were employed as a platform for metal ion immobilization and applied as a marine antifouling coating. The novel Cu ion imprinting process described is based on the use of metal ion templates and LbL multilayer covalent cross-linking. Custom synthesized, peptide mimicking polycations composed of histidine grafted poly(allylamine) (PAH) to bind metal ions, and methyl ester containing polyanions for convenient cross-linking were used in the fabrication process.

Porous PLGA microspheres tailored for dual delivery of biomolecules via layer-by-layer assembly.

Tissue engineering is a complex and dynamic process that requires varied biomolecular cues to promote optimal tissue growth. Consequently, the development of delivery systems capable of sequestering more than one biomolecule with controllable release profiles is a key step in the advancement of this field. This study develops multilayered polyelectrolyte films incorporating alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an anti-inflammatory molecule, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Use of a short peptide as a building block in the layer-by-layer assembly of biomolecules on polymeric surfaces.

The incorporation of low molecular weight drugs and therapeutic peptides into multilayer films assembled via the layer-by-layer technique can potentially provide means to deliver small molecules to target sites and to tune their release. This study describes the use of both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions to incorporate a tridecapeptide antiinflammatory hormone, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), as a building block at the base of a multilayer assembly of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CS) on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) surfaces. A range of switching layers, including a neutral lipid, dioleylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), a negatively charged lipid mixture DOPC/dioleylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) and a negatively charged polysaccharide, HA, were investigated for their ability to support subsequent HA and CS layers.

Coating and release of an anti-inflammatory hormone from PLGA microspheres for tissue engineering.

Many biomaterials used in tissue engineering cause a foreign body response in vivo, which left untreated can severely reduce the effectiveness of tissue regeneration. In this study, an anti-inflammatory hormone α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) was physically adsorbed to the surface of biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres to reduce inflammatory responses to this material. The stability and adsorption isotherm of peptide binding were characterized.

Multilayered microspheres for the controlled release of growth factors in tissue engineering.

Tissue regeneration may be stimulated by growth factors but to be effective, this delivery must be sustained and requires delivery vehicles that overcome the short half-life of these molecules in vivo. One promising approach is to couple growth factors to the biomaterial surface so that they are readily bioavailable. Here the layer-by-layer process was used to construct a multilayered polyelectrolyte delivery system on the surface of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid constructs.