Modulating the Thermoresponse of Polymer-Protein Conjugates with Hydrogels for Controlled Release
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Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
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School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1, Canada
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Luminita Marin
Polymers 2021, 13(16), 2772; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162772
Received: 9 July 2021
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Revised: 4 August 2021
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Accepted: 13 August 2021
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Published: 18 August 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Thermoresponsive Polymers)
Sustained release is being explored to increase plasma and tissue residence times of polymer-protein therapeutics for improved efficacy. Recently, poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PEGMA) polymers have been established as potential PEG alternatives to further decrease immunogenicity and introduce responsive or sieving properties. We developed a drug delivery system that locally depresses the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PEGMA-protein conjugates within zwitterionic hydrogels for controlled release. Inside the hydrogel the conjugates partially aggregate through PEGMA-PEGMA chain interactions to limit their release rates, whereas conjugates outside of the hydrogel are completely solubilized. Release can therefore be tuned by altering hydrogel components and the PEGMA’s temperature sensitivity without the need for traditional controlled release mechanisms such as particle encapsulation or affinity interactions. Combining local LCST depression technology and degradable zwitterionic hydrogels, complete release of the conjugate was achieved over 13 days.
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Keywords:
polymer-protein conjugates; thermoresponsive; controlled release; temperature-sensitive polymers; hydrogels
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MDPI and ACS Style
Huynh, V.; Ifraimov, N.; Wylie, R.G. Modulating the Thermoresponse of Polymer-Protein Conjugates with Hydrogels for Controlled Release. Polymers 2021, 13, 2772. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162772
AMA Style
Huynh V, Ifraimov N, Wylie RG. Modulating the Thermoresponse of Polymer-Protein Conjugates with Hydrogels for Controlled Release. Polymers. 2021; 13(16):2772. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162772
Chicago/Turabian StyleHuynh, Vincent, Natalie Ifraimov, and Ryan G. Wylie. 2021. "Modulating the Thermoresponse of Polymer-Protein Conjugates with Hydrogels for Controlled Release" Polymers 13, no. 16: 2772. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13162772
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