Modification of Branched Polyethyleneimine Using Mesquite Gum for Its Improved Hemocompatibility

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 13; no. 16; p. 2766
• Main Authors: Pinilla-Torres, Ana M, Carrión-García, Paola Y, Sánchez-Domínguez, Celia N, Gallardo-Blanco, Hugo, Sánchez-Domínguez, Margarita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17.08.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Aqueous solutions; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; branched polyethyleneimine; buffering capacity; Carboxymethylation; Chemical synthesis; Copolymers; Crosslinking; Cytotoxicity; Fourier transforms; functionalization; Gene therapy; Graft copolymers; hemocompatibility; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Mesquite; mesquite gum; Molecular weight; Nanoparticles; Photoelectrons; Polyethyleneimine; Polymers; Thermogravimetric analysis; Viscosity; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; St Louis Missouri; United States > US; Mexico; functionalization; mesquite gum; buffering capacity; hemocompatibility; biocompatibility; branched polyethyleneimine
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym13162766

In the present study, the modification of branched polyethyleneimine (b-PEI) was carried out using mesquite gum (MG) to improve its hemocompatibility to be used in biomedical applications. In the copolymer synthesis process (carboxymethylated mesquite gum grafted polyethyleneimine copolymer (CBX-MG-PEI), an MG carboxymethylation reaction was initially carried out (carboxymethylated mesquite gum (CBX-MG). Subsequently, the functionalization between CBX-MG and b-PEI was carried out using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and -hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) as crosslinking agents. The synthesis products were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermogravimetric analysis showed that CBX-MG and CBX-MG-PEI presented a lower decomposition temperature than MG. The CBX-MG-PEI has a high buffer capacity in the pH range of 4 to 7, similar to the b-PEI. In addition, the CBX-MG-PEI showed an improvement in hemocompatibility in comparison with the b-PEI. The results showed a non-hemolytic property at doses lower than 0.1 µg/mL (CBX-MG-PEI). These results allow us to propose that this copolymer be used in transfection, polymeric nanoparticles, and biomaterials due to its physicochemical and hemocompatibility properties.