Amoebicidal Activity of Poly-Epsilon-Lysine Functionalized Hydrogels.

Purpose: To determine the amoebicidal activity of functionalized poly-epsilon-lysine hydrogels (pɛK+) against Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Methods: A. castellanii trophozoites and cysts were grown in the presence of pɛK solution (0-2.

Characterization of Tunable Poly-ε-Lysine-Based Hydrogels for Corneal Tissue Engineering.

A family of poly-ε-lysine hydrogels can be synthesized by crosslinking with bis-carboxylic acids using carbodiimide chemistry. In addition to creating hydrogels using a simple cast method, a fragmented method is used to introduce increased porosity within the hydrogel structure. Both methods have created tunable characteristics ranging in their mechanical properties, transparency, and water content, which is of interest to corneal tissue engineering and can be tailored to specific cellular needs and applications.

Antimicrobial Activity of Poly-epsilon-lysine Peptide Hydrogels Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Purpose: To determine the antimicrobial activity of poly-epsilon-lysine (pɛK) functionalization of hydrogels against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: Antimicrobial activities of pɛK and pɛK+ hydrogels were tested against both keratitis and a laboratory strain of Paeruginosa at a range of inocula sizes, over 4 and 24 hours. The number of viable CFU on pɛK and pɛK+ hydrogels or commercial contact lenses (CL) was investigated.

A novel poly-ε-lysine based implant, Proliferate®, for promotion of CNS repair following spinal cord injury.

The limited regenerative capacity of the CNS poses formidable challenges to the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). Two key barriers to repair are (i) the physical gap left by the injury, and (ii) the inhibitory milieu surrounding the injury, the glial scar. Biomaterial implantation into the injury site can fill the cavity, provide a substrate for cell migration, and potentially attenuate the glial scar.

Poly-ε-lysine based hydrogels as synthetic substrates for the expansion of corneal endothelial cells for transplantation.

Dysfunction of the corneal endothelium (CE) resulting from progressive cell loss leads to corneal oedema and significant visual impairment. Current treatments rely upon donor allogeneic tissue to replace the damaged CE. A donor cornea shortage necessitates the development of biomaterials, enabling in vitro expansion of corneal endothelial cells (CECs).

A Novel Peptide Hydrogel for an Antimicrobial Bandage Contact Lens.

A peptide hydrogel with an antimicrobial activity is developed as a bandage contact lens. The antimicrobial activity is enhanced with the addition of the biomolecules penicillin G or poly-ε-lysine and is positive against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The lens is also noncytotoxic toward a human corneal epithelial cell line and as a consequence is of great potential as a drug-eluting bandage lens replacing conventional corneal ulcer treatment.

Novel non-PEG derived polyethers as solid supports. 2. Solid-phase synthesis studies.

Novel non-PEG derived polyether resins, coined SLURPS (Superior Liquid Uptake Resins for Polymer-supported Synthesis), were studied for their performance in solid-phase synthesis. Novel amino functional resins, SLURPS-NH2, were prepared with a loading of up to 8.5 mmol/g and employed successfully in the solid-phase synthesis of Leu-Enkephalin.