title: Polyrotaxanes for applications in life science and biotechnology.
abstract: Due to their low cytotoxicity, controllable size, and unique architecture, cyclodextrin (CD)-based polyrotaxanes and polypseudorotaxanes have inspired interesting exploitation as novel biomaterials. This review will update the recent progress in the studies on the structures of polyrotaxanes and polypseudorotaxanes based on different CDs and polymers, followed by summarizing their potential applications in life science and biotechnology, such as drug delivery, gene delivery, and tissue engineering. CD-based biodegradable polypseudorotaxane hydrogels could be used as promising injectable drug delivery systems for sustained and controlled drug release. Polyrotaxanes with drug or ligand-conjugated CDs threaded on polymer chain with biodegradable end group could be useful for controlled and multivalent targeting delivery. Cationic polyrotaxanes consisting of multiple oligoethylenimine-grafted CDs threaded on a block copolymer chain were attractive non-viral gene carries due to the strong DNA-binding ability, low cytotoxicity, and high gene transfection efficiency. Cytocleavable end caps were also introduced in the polyrotaxane systems in order to ensure efficient endosomal escape for intracellular trafficking of DNA. Finally, hydrolyzable polyrotaxane hydrogels with cross-linked α-CDs could be a desirable scaffold for cartilage and bone tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117574, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: Jia Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000379:methods; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D043862:Rotaxanes; D004247:DNA