title: Fluoropolymer based on a polyaspartamide containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole units: a potential artificial oxygen (O2) carrier.
abstract: In this preliminary work we have prepared a fluorinated polymer capable of solubilizing an appreciable amount of O(2) and, at the same time, maintaining a higher water solubility than perfluoroalkanes investigated as injectable O(2) carriers. In particular, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a new macromolecular conjugate obtained by derivatization of alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-DL-aspartamide (PHEA) with 5-pentafluorophenyl-3-perfluoroheptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole, called PHEA-F. This new water soluble fluoropolymer was prepared in high yield using a simple procedure. It was characterized by FT-IR and UV-vis spectrophotometry, (19)F-NMR and SEC measurements. O(2) solubility studies on PHEA-F aqueous solutions were carried out at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C at atmospheric pressure and showed that PHEA-F conjugate, despite its low degree of derivatization in fluorine containing groups (2.60 mol-%), is capable of dissolving 13-15% more O(2) than non-fluorinated PHEA. Moreover, O(2) release in simulated physiological conditions is faster for PHEA-F than for PHEA. The biocompatibility of this conjugate has been evaluated by performing an in vitro viability assay on human chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells (K-562) chosen as a model cell line and in vitro haemolysis experiments on human RBCs. All these properties suggest the potential use of PHEA-F as an artificial O(2) carrier.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Farmaco-Chimico, Università di Bari, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandracchia
authors.forename: Antonio Palumbo
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Piccionello
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pitarresi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Silvestre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buscemi
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giammona
mesh_terms: D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010455:Peptides; C008965:alpha,beta-poly((2-hydroxyethyl)-aspartamide); D010100:Oxygen