THERMORESPONSIVE ARGININE-BASED HYDROGELS AS BIOLOGIC CARRIERS

摘要

Cationic poly(ester amide) (PEA)-based hydrogels are provided. The hydrogels are fabricated from unsaturated L-arginine based poly(ester-amide) (UArg-PEA) precursors, pluronicDA precursors, or a combination of UArg-PEA and pluronicDA precursors at predetermined precursor composition ratios. PluronicDA/UArg-PEA hybrid hydrogels and pure pluronicDA based hydrogels are thermoresponsive and biodegradable, while pure UArg-PEA based hydrogels are biodegradable but not thermoresponsive. UArg-PEA based, pluronicDA based and hybrid hydrogels can be synthesized from unsaturated arginine-based PEA salts and/or unsaturated pluronic acid polymers. Unsaturated pluronic acid polymers can be synthesized by reacting pluronic acid with acryloylchloride to provide functional vinyl groups at the two chain ends of pluronic acid. The hydrogels can be used to carry and/or release molecules or compounds such as bioactive compounds, and can function as biologic carriers for a variety of biomedical applications.