Basic Studies on the Development of Functional Biodegradable Polymers and Surface Grafted Polymer Brushes

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Historically Biomaterials played critical roles in the treatment of many diseases ranging from cancer therapies to organ replacement and helped to improve human health. Examples include artificial heart, metal meshes called stents for treating cardiovascular diseases and drug delivery systems for reducing the toxic side effects of drugs. Among biomaterials, synthetic polymers played a very important role in the advancement of modern medical treatments. For example, polymers have been used in hip replacement therapy as well in the replacement of diseased or damaged blood vessels (e.g.vascular grafts). Other examples include blood storage bags for transfusion therapy. Although synthetic materials helped to treat many medical conditions, significant problems exist in terms of their biocompatibility and biodegradation as most of these materials are not specifically designed for its intended medical use. In our research program, we are addressing these challenges by understanding how body interacts with synthetic polymers and investigating the fundamental aspects in the synthesis of polymers for biomedical use. Primary objectives of the program are i) investigation on hyperbranched polyketal and polyglycerols with defined degradation and excellent biocompatibility, ii) ester degradable polymers via RAFT polymerization, iii) ultrasensitive carbohydrate arrays for sensing and enzyme screening, iv) fundamental understanding of polymer brush shape memory materials for the creation of novel biomedical devices. The common theme is the development and understanding of advanced polymer based materials and chemistry for future biomaterials and devices. We anticipate the chemistry and materials proposed here will provide new directions in the design of biodegradable polymers, biomaterials and biomedical devices. These new materials will address the unmet clinical needs in the areas of blood transfusion, iron chelation and anticoagulation therapies, disease diagonis and cardiovascular diseases, thereby benefiting millions of people around the world. This will also generate rich opportunities for our graduate students to work in an interdisciplinary environment to address real problems and become future leaders.