Controlled Bioactive Delivery Using Degradable Electroactive Polymers

• Published in: Biomacromolecules Vol. 23; no. 7; pp. 3031 - 3040
• Main Authors: Ashton, Mark D., Cooper, Patricia A., Municoy, Sofia, Desimone, Martin F., Cheneler, David, Shnyder, Steven D., Hardy, John G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 11.07.2022
• Subjects: agrochemicals; bilirubin; biocompatible materials; composite polymers; computer simulation; dexamethasone; health services; phosphates; pyrroles
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00516

Biomaterials capable of precisely controlling the delivery of agrochemicals/biologics/drugs/fragrances have significant markets in the agriscience/healthcare industries. Here, we report the development of degradable electroactive polymers and their application for the controlled delivery of a clinically relevant drug (the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone phosphate, DMP). Electroactive copolymers composed of blocks of polycaprolactone (PCL) and naturally occurring electroactive pyrrole oligomers (e.g., bilirubin, biliverdin, and hemin) were prepared and solution-processed to produce films (optionally doped with DMP). A combination of in silico/in vitro/in vivo studies demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the polymers. The release of DMP in response to the application of an electrical stimulus was observed to be enhanced by ca. 10–30% relative to the passive release from nonstimulated samples in vitro. Such stimuli-responsive biomaterials have the potential for integration devices capable of delivering a variety of molecules for technical/medical applications.