Light-triggered CO release from nanoporous non-wovens.
Carmen Bohlender1, Steve Gläser, Moritz Klein
1Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry (IAAC), Humboldtstr. 8, 07743 Jena, Germany. alexander.schiller@uni-jena.de.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
This study embeds photoactive carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-1 (CORM-1) into polymer fibers, creating a material that releases CO upon light exposure. This light-activated material is non-toxic in the dark but photocytotoxic, offering potential therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Materials Science
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) offer therapeutic potential but often suffer from poor bioavailability.
- Developing methods to control CO release and enhance CORM delivery is crucial for biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To embed the photoactive CORM-1 into poly(l-lactide-co-d/l-lactide) fibers using electrospinning.
- To characterize the resulting hybrid material and assess its CO release properties and biological effects.
Main Methods:
- Non-covalent embedding of CORM-1 into polymer fibers via electrospinning.
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphology analysis.
- Infrared (IR) spectroscopy for chemical characterization.
- Quantification of CO release using myoglobin assay, CO electrode, and IR gas cuvette.
- In vitro cytotoxicity assays using mouse fibroblast 3T3 cells.
Main Results:
- Electrospinning successfully produced hybrid non-woven fibers with a nanoporous morphology, partly due to CO release during processing.
- Incorporated CORM-1 retained its carbonyl band signature, confirmed by IR spectroscopy.
- Light-triggered CO release was confirmed, with release rates dependent on wavelength (365 nm faster than 480 nm).
- The material generated up to 3.4 μmol of CO per mg of non-woven.
- The hybrid material exhibited no dark toxicity but demonstrated significant photocytotoxicity against 3T3 cells upon light irradiation.
Conclusions:
- Electrospun poly(lactide) fibers effectively encapsulate CORM-1, enhancing its bioavailability and enabling controlled, light-triggered CO release.
- The developed material is biocompatible in the absence of light and exhibits potent photocytotoxicity, indicating its potential for light-activated therapies.
