title: A new biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogel with polyaminoacid structure.
abstract: The preparation and physicochemical and biological characterization of a novel polyaminoacid hydrogel have been reported. The alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA) has been used as a starting polymer for a derivatization reaction with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to give rise to the methacrylate derivative named PHM. Photocrosslinking of PHM has been performed in aqueous solution at 313 nm and in the absence of toxic initiators. PHM-based hydrogel has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, swelling measurements in aqueous media; the degradation of PHM-based hydrogel has been evaluated as a function of time in the absence or in the presence of esterase. Besides, the biocompatibility of this hydrogel and of its degradation products has been evaluated by performing in vitro assays on human chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells (K-562), chosen as a model cell line. Finally, ATR-FTIR measurements have showed that interaction between PHM-based hydrogel and each of four plasma proteins (albumin, gamma-globulin, transferrin and fibrinogen) does not cause change in protein conformation thus supporting its potential use as a material to prepare parenteral drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: giopitar@unipa.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pitarresi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Tecnologie Agro-Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saiano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmaco-Chimico, Università degli Studi di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandracchia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Palumbo
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004950:Esterases / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D006868:Hydrolysis; D020014:K562 Cells; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D016062:Porosity; D011485:Protein Binding; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001798:Blood Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; C520606:PHM polymer; D010455:Peptides; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D014867:Water; D004950:Esterases