Research and Application Examples
Optimizing antifouling additive design
Three additives, based on bisurea and short poly(ethylene glycol) polymers, were designed and synthesized and formulated in combination with both PCL-BU and PC-BU base polymers. The antifouling properties were assessed on 2D solution-cast surfaces and on 3D electrospun scaffolds. The bisurea-PEG additive where a PEG-polymer is sandwiched between two bisurea motifs proved to have the most robust antifouling properties in 3D electrospun scaffolds.
Activities by Biomaterials Platform:
- Design and synthesis of bisurea-PEG additives and PCL-BU and PC-BU polymers
Related scientific publications
- Bastiaan D. Ippel, Henk M. Keizer, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Supramolecular antifouling additives for robust and efficient functionalization of elastomeric materials: molecular design matters, Functional Mater.2019, 1805375
Influencing cell-adhesion with bisurea-peptide additives: RGD
BU-RGD and BU-cRGD additives were combined with PCL-BU and were shown to modulate the adhesion of renal epithelial cells, through a change in focal adhesion size, distribution and cell-motility.
Activities by Biomaterials Platform:
- Synthesis of peptides, and conjugation to bisurea-building block.
Related scientific publications:
- Ronald C. van Gaal, Antonetta B.C. Buskermolen, Bastiaan D. Ippel, Peter-Paul K.H. Fransen, Sabrina Zaccaria, Carlijn V.C. Bouten, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Functional peptide presentation on different hydrogen bonding biomaterials using supramolecular additives, Biomaterials2019, doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119466
Antimicrobial peptide-additives
Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) were modified with a UPy-moiety and incorporated in the PCLdiUPy supramolecular thermoplastic elastomer. The UPy-AMP were shown to be non-cytotoxic, and able to kill several strains of bacteria. Furthermore, the additional UPy-moiety prevented excessive leakage of the AMPs from the elastomeric material.
Related scientific publications:
- Sabrina Zaccaria, Ronald C. van Gaal, Martijn Riool, Sebastian A.J. Zaat, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Antimicrobial peptide modification of biomaterials using supramolecular additives, Pol Sci. Part A Polym. Chem.2018, 56, 1926
Improving material-Extracellular Matrix interactions with catechol-derived additive
A catechol moiety was conjugated to the UPy building block and incorporated in PCLdiUPy supramolecular thermoplastic elastomer, and in an intrinsically non-cell adhesive Priplast-based UPy-material. Through incorporation of the UPy-catechol additive, the cell-material and material-ECM interactions were notably improved.
Activities by Biomaterials Platform
- Synthesis of UPy-catechol additive and UPy-priplast elastomer
Related scientific publications:
- Sergio Spaans, Peter-Paul K.H. Fransen, Bastiaan D. Ippel, Denise de Bont, Henk M. Keizer, Noortje A.M. Bax, Carlijn V.C. Bouten, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Supramolecular surface functionalization via catechols for the improvement of cell-material interactions, Biomaterials Science, 2017, 5, 1541-1548
Surface modification from supramolecular additive
Through incorporation of a tetrazine modified UPy-additive, into the PCLdiUPy supramolecular thermoplastic elastomer, the surface of the biomaterial could be modified after fabrication. This was first shown on 2D spin-coated films, and later on 3D electrospun scaffolds. Furthermore, by using BCN-PEG molecules, surfaces were modified to be antifouling for cells and proteins.
Activities by Biomaterials Platform
- Synthesis of UPy-additive
Related scientific publications:
- Olga J.G.M. Goor, Henk M. Keizer, Anne L. Bruinen, Moniek G.J. Schmitz, Ron M. Versteegen, Henk M. Janssen, Ron M.A. Heeren, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Efficient Functionalization of Additives at Supramolecular Material Surfaces, Advanced Materials, 2017, 29, 1604652
- Olga J.G.M. Goor, Joyce E.P. Brouns, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Introduction of anti-fouling coatings at the surface of supramolecular elastomeric materials via post-modification of reactive supramolecular additives, Chem., 2017, 8, 5228-5238
pH switchable UPy- hydrogel for injection
UPy-PEG hydrogelators show pH switching properties, where a sol-gel transition occurs when the pH decreased from 9.5 to neutral. Using this property, and the natural buffering properties of tissue, an injectable hydrogel can be formulated. Such a hydrogelator can then for instance be used for the local (and controlled) delivery of drug-molecules.
Activities by Biomaterials Platform
- Synthesis of UPy-based hydrogelators
Related scientific publications:
- Patricia Y.W. Dankers, Thomas M. Hermans, Travis W. Baughman, Yuko Kamikawa, Roxanne E. Kieltyka, Maartje M.C. Bastings, Henk M. Janssen, Nico A.J.M. Sommerdijk, Antje Larsen, Marja J.A. van Luyn, Anton W. Bosman, Eliane R. Popa, George Fytas, E.W. Meijer, Hierarchical formation of supramolecular transient networks in water: a modular injectable delivery system, Materials2012, 24, 2703-2709
- C.H. Pape, Maarten H. Bakker, Cheyenne C.S. Tseng, Maartje M.C. Bastings, Stefan Koudstaal, Pierfrancesco Agostoni, Steven A.J. Chamuleau, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, An injectable and drug-loaded supramolecular hydrogel for local catheter injection into the pig heart, JoVE2015, 100, e52450, 1-8
- Maartje M.C. Bastings, Stefan Koudstaal, Roxanne E. Kieltyka, A.C.H. Pape, Yoko Nakano, Dries Feyen, Frebus J. van Slochteren, Pieter A. Doevendans, Joost P.G. Sluijter, E.W. Meijer, Steven A.J. Chamuleau, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, A fast pH-switchable and self-healing supramolecular hydrogel carrier for guided, local catheter-injection in the infarcted myocardium, Healthcare Mater., 2014, 3, 70-78
Hydrogel with MRI-label additive
A UPy-based additive was conjugated to a DOTA-moiety that can complexate paramagnetic gadolinium (Gd), resulting in a UPy-DOTA-Gd MRI-label additive
Activities by Biomaterials Platform
- Design and synthesis of UPy-DOTA-Gd MRI-label
Related scientific publications:
- Maarten H. Bakker, Cheyenne C.S. Tseng, Henk M. Keizer, Peter R. Seevinck. Henk M. Janssen, Frebus J. Van Slochteren, Steven A.J. Chamuleau, Patricia Y.W. Dankers, MRI visualization of injectable ureidopyrimidinone hydrogelators by supramolecular contrast agent labeling, Healthcare Mater.2018, doi:1002/adhm.201701139