Implantable Air-Brushed Drug Delivery Microfiber Mats
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Grant No. P20GM103408, and by an Undergraduate Research Grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of Idaho. The project described was supported by the National Grand Challenge Scholars Program (NGCSP) at the University of Idaho.
Abstract
A significant challenge in the field of biomaterials is the nonspecific adsorption of proteins to implants. Upon implantation, this nonspecific protein adsorption triggers the natural foreign body response leading to encapsulation and failure of the device. Zwitterionic materials are excellent at resisting protein adsorption. For this reason, we are investigating the zwitterionic polymer poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA). Using polySBMA, our goal is to produce nonfouling-microfiber mats by airbrush-spraying polymer microfibers. To date we have explored the influence of spraying pressure, nozzle diameter, distance to collector, polymer molecular weight, and solvent. We have also optimized the use of a photo-polymerization reaction to reduce the water solubility characteristics of the resulting microfibers. The long term goal is to use these microfibers to create a high surface area, microfiber, drug delivery platform.
Implantable Air-Brushed Drug Delivery Microfiber Mats
A significant challenge in the field of biomaterials is the nonspecific adsorption of proteins to implants. Upon implantation, this nonspecific protein adsorption triggers the natural foreign body response leading to encapsulation and failure of the device. Zwitterionic materials are excellent at resisting protein adsorption. For this reason, we are investigating the zwitterionic polymer poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA). Using polySBMA, our goal is to produce nonfouling-microfiber mats by airbrush-spraying polymer microfibers. To date we have explored the influence of spraying pressure, nozzle diameter, distance to collector, polymer molecular weight, and solvent. We have also optimized the use of a photo-polymerization reaction to reduce the water solubility characteristics of the resulting microfibers. The long term goal is to use these microfibers to create a high surface area, microfiber, drug delivery platform.
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