Enzymatic Polymerization of PCL-PEG Co-polymers for Biomedical Applications.

Front Mol Biosci

Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Published: October 2019


Category Ranking

98%

Total Visits

921

Avg Visit Duration

2 minutes

Citations

20

Article Abstract

Biodegradable polymers, obtained via chemical synthesis, are currently employed in a wide range of biomedical applications. However, enzymatic polymerization is an attractive alternative because it is more sustainable and safer. Many lipases can be employed in ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of biodegradable polymers. Nevertheless, the harsh conditions required in industrial context are not always compatible with their enzymatic activity. In this work, we have studied a thermophilic carboxylesterase and the commonly used Lipase B from (CaLB) for tailored synthesis of amphiphilic polyesters for biomedical applications. We have conducted Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) MD simulations of the synthesis of Polycaprolactone-Polyethylene Glycol (PCL-PEG) model co-polymers. Our insights about the reaction mechanisms are important for the design of customized enzymes capable to synthesize different polyesters for biomedical applications.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6811512PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2019.00109DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

biomedical applications
16
enzymatic polymerization
8
biodegradable polymers
8
polyesters biomedical
8
polymerization pcl-peg
4
pcl-peg co-polymers
4
biomedical
4
co-polymers biomedical
4
applications
4
applications biodegradable
4

Similar Publications

Homogeneous Catalysts for Hydrogenative PHIP Used in Biomedical Applications.

Anal Sens

January 2025

Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390 United States.

At present, two competing hyperpolarization (HP) techniques, dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and parahydrogen (para-H) induced polarization (PHIP), can generate sufficiently high liquid state C signal enhancement for in vivo studies. PHIP utilizes the singlet spin state of para-H to create non-equilibrium spin populations. In hydrogenative PHIP, para-H is irreversibly added to unsaturated precursors, typically in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cross-reactivities in conjugation reactions involving iron oxide nanoparticles.

Beilstein J Nanotechnol

August 2025

Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada.

The preparation of multimodal nanoparticles by capping magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with functional organic molecules is a major area of research for biomedical applications. Conjugation reactions, such as carbodiimide coupling and the highly selective class of reactions known as "click chemistry", have been instrumental in tailoring the ligand layers of IONPs to produce functional biomedical nanomaterials. However, few studies report the controls performed to determine if the loading of molecules onto IONPs is due to the proposed coupling reaction(s) employed, or some other unknown interaction with the IONP surface.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this contribution, Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) is employed to investigate the (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction between ()--methyl--(2-furyl)-nitrone 1 and but-2-ynedioic acid 2. DFT calculations at the M06-2X-D3/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory under solvent-free conditions at room temperature show that this reaction proceeds CA3-Z diastereoselectivity, with the formation of the CA3-Z cycloadduct being both thermodynamically and kinetically more favoured than the CA4-Z one. Reactivity parameters obtained from CDFT calculations reveal that compound 1 predominantly behaves as a nucleophile with moderate electrophilic features, in contrast to compound 2, which demonstrates strong electrophilicity and limited nucleophilic ability.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Genome editing technologies, particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9, have transformed biomedical research by enabling precise genetic modifications. Due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness and versatility, CRISPR has been widely applied across various stages of research, from fundamental biological investigations in preclinical models to potential therapeutic interventions. In nephrology, CRISPR represents a groundbreaking tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying kidney diseases and developing innovative therapeutic approaches.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF