title: Functionalized bridged silsesquioxane-based nanostructured microspheres: ultrasound-assisted synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity characterization.
abstract: Different kinds of polymers have been employed in medicine as biomaterials for different purposes. In recent years, considerable attention has been focused on the development of new drug-delivery systems in order to increase bio-availability, sustain, localize and target drug action in the human body. The versatility of the sol-gel processing to synthesize nanostructured materials and the possibility of incorporating organic molecules into the matrix of the final hybrid material, represent a novel and attractive path to the synthesis of new functionalized hybrid biomaterials with advanced properties. In this work, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-functionalized hybrid microspheres based on bridged silsesquioxanes synthesized via ultrasound-assisted sol-gel processing, were characterized. An investigation concerning the cytotoxic response of these new microspheres on CHO-K1 cells was accomplished based on ISO 10993-5 standard (Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices). Microspheres incorporating ASA showed a cytotoxic effect when pure extracts of the microspheres were analyzed, however, they strongly diminished their cytotoxicity as the extracts were diluted. When a 10% concentration extract was employed, hybrid microspheres were shown to be non cytotoxic. These results are promising for considering these novel functionalized organic-inorganic microspheres as potential drug-carriers to be employed in drug delivery-related applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Technology, University of Mar del Plata and National Research Council, CONICET, JB Justo 4302, B7608FDQ, Mar del Plata, Argentina. hromeo@fi.mdp.edu.ar
authors.forename: Hernán E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cameo
authors.forename: María V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Choren
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fanovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008863:Microspheres; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C018408:3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecylammonium; D001241:Aspirin