Open AccessInjectable Catalyst-Free Poly(Propylene Fumarate) System Cross-Linked by Strain Promoted Alkyne–Azide Cycloaddition Click Chemistry for Spine Defect Filling
Author(s) -
Xifeng Liu,
Arthur K. Miller,
Hao Xu,
Brian E. Waletzki,
Lichun Lu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
biomacromolecules
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.689
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1526-4602
pISSN - 1525-7797
DOI - 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00133
Subject(s) - click chemistry , cycloaddition , biocompatibility , alkyne , azide , catalysis , dendrimer , polymer chemistry , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry
A new PPF-BCN/hyPCL32-N 3 injectable system that can be cross-linked by catalyst-free, strain promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC) click chemistry was developed for tissue engineering applications. The system consisted of two components: PPF-BCN, poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) functionalized with (1 R ,8 S ,9s)-bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN-OH), and hyPCL32-N 3 , a hyper-branched 32-arm poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) dendrimer functionalized with azide as the cross-linker core. Fast SPAAC click reaction allowed the desired gelation of the system without using any toxic initiator or catalyst. Compared to the conventional injectable formulation, e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), our PPF-BCN/hyPCL32-N 3 (abbreviated as PFCL-Click) injectable system showed enhanced biocompatibility and low heat generation during cross-linking. After reaction, the cross-linked PFCL-Click scaffolds supported excellent proliferation and differentiation of preosteoblast cells on the surface. The PFCL-Click system can be successfully injected into vertebral bodies of rabbit spine and can be monitored by X-ray imaging after incorporating zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ) powder. With these unique advantages, this injectable system has promising potential for bone defect repair and other tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.