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Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Nitroxyl radical incorporated electrospun biodegradable poly(ester Amide) nanofiber membranes
1Fiber and Polymer Science Program, Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA.
Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition
|February 5, 2009
Summary
Biodegradable amino-acid-based poly(ester amide) (PEA) fibers loaded with 4-amino-TEMPO were electrospun. These fibers showed sustained release in PBS but rapid degradation and release in enzyme conditions, indicating tunable degradation for potential applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Biodegradable polymers are crucial for controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering.
- Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) offer tunable properties for advanced applications.
- Electrospinning enables the fabrication of ultra-fine fibers for enhanced material performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize biodegradable amino-acid-based PEA ultra-fine fibers.
- To investigate the effect of solvent composition on fiber morphology.
- To evaluate the in vitro degradation and drug release profile of the PEA fibers.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning of PEA dope with varying solvent ratios (chloroform/DMF).
- Characterization of fiber size and morphology using microscopy.
- In vitro degradation studies in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and alpha-chymotrypsin medium.
- Assessment of 4-amino-TEMPO release kinetics.
Main Results:
- Nano-size PEA fibers (approx. 640 nm) were achieved with a specific solvent ratio.
- PEA fibers exhibited gradual degradation in PBS over 1 month with sustained 4-amino-TEMPO release (38%).
- In alpha-chymotrypsin medium, PEA fibers showed rapid degradation (>80% weight loss in 6 days) and complete drug release in 5 days.
Conclusions:
- Electrospun PEA fibers can be fabricated with controlled morphology.
- The degradation rate of PEA fibers is highly dependent on the medium composition.
- PEA fibers demonstrate potential for applications requiring tunable degradation and controlled release.
