A Radiolabeling Method for Precise Quantification of Polymers.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Biomaterials Science
• Pharmacology and Drug Delivery
• Radiochemistry and Polymer Science

Background:

• Accurate quantification of polymers is crucial in various research fields.
• Radiolabeling offers a precise method for tracking molecules.
• Existing methods may lack sensitivity for microgram quantities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a versatile ¹²⁵I radiolabeling method for polymers.
• To quantify hyaluronic acid (HA) uptake and release on contact lenses.
• To evaluate the in vivo retention of mucoadhesive micelles using radiolabeling.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of phenol groups onto hyaluronic acid (HA) and block copolymers.
• ¹²⁵I labeling of phenol-functionalized polymers using a modified ICl method.
• Quantification of HA on contact lenses and in vivo distribution of micelles in rats.

Main Results:

• ¹²⁵I labeling enabled accurate quantification of microgram amounts of HA.
• Phenylboronic acid (PBA) micelles showed approximately four times higher retention in nasopharyngeal tissues.
• The radiolabeling method proved effective for diverse polymer quantification applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed ¹²⁵I radiolabeling technique is highly effective for precise polymer quantification.
• This method facilitates the study of polymer interactions with biological surfaces and in vivo behavior.
• The findings support the use of PBA-functionalized polymers for enhanced mucosal retention.