title: A Stiff Injectable Biodegradable Elastomer.
abstract: Injectable materials often have shortcomings in mechanical and drug-eluting properties that are attributable to their high water contents. A water-free, liquid four-armed PEG modified with dopamine end groups is described which changed from liquid to elastic solid by reaction with a small volume of Fe3+solution. The elastic modulus and degradation times increased with increasing Fe3+concentrations. Both the free base and the water-soluble form of lidocaine could be dissolved in the PEG4-dopamine and released in a sustained manner from the cross-linked matrix. PEG4-dopamine was retained in the subcutaneous space in vivo for up to 3 weeks with minimal inflammation. This material's tailorable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, ability to incorporate hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs and release them slowly are desirable traits for drug delivery and other biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Daniel S. Kohane, Dr. B. M., Dr. S. A. S., J. H., J. D., Dr. B. P. T., Dr. J. L. Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mizrahi
authors.forename: Sahadev A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shankarappa
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: Jenny C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dohlman
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Timko
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Jung-Jae
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kohane
keywords: Biomedical Applications; Biomimetics; Drug Delivery; Hydrogels; Polymeric Materials