Development of polymer biomaterials that respond to stimuli

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With the aging population in Canada, there is a critical need for medical devices that effectively deliver therapeutics, regenerate tissue, and replace the function of failing organs. For the successful implementation of polymer biomaterial devices to meet these needs, polymers should be designed so they can be changed (optimized) over time by external stimuli or adapt to changes in their biological environment. For example, polymer devices designed to deliver drugs at rates that may be changed over time could provide optimized treatments to individuals. The proposed research will develop new polymers that can change in response to light because it is a non-invasive external stimulus, and new materials that bind or are triggered to change in response to proteins because proteins fluctuate with diseases.****The overarching theme of my lab is the design of innovative materials that interact with their surrounding environment (physical or biological) to enable the development of new technologies in medicine, engineering, and environmental applications, to benefit society. The long term goal of the proposed work is to create new functionalized polymers that change over time in response to physical stimuli or biological triggers as new controlled drug delivery materials and surface modification techniques. ****In Objective 1, my lab will develop photoresponsive materials by modifying polymers with macromolecules that change in response to light. The most sensitive materials will be developed as controlled release matrices with release rates that may be increased or decreased over time with light.  Polymers that gel in situ will be developed as drug and cell delivery vehicles.  These new polymers will benefit wound care and ophthalmology industries in Canada.  ****In Objective 2, my lab will develop biologically-triggered materials by modifying polymers with aptamers that bind to specific proteins.  These novel biomaterials will gel in situ by specific proteins or deliver drugs in response to specific proteins.  For example, specific proteins will turn on drug delivery from matrices so that drugs are delivered when required, such as when VEGF is present in tumours.  In addition, polymer surfaces will be modified with aptamers to develop micropatterns of proteins. This is a new approach to surface modification that will enable research on cell-cell and cell-protein interactions or develop off-the-shelf device coatings that may be bound with proteins (from serum) prior to implantation. ****Highly qualified personnel (HQP) will be trained under this research program by developing skills in biomaterial development, polymer chemistry, cell culture, statistical modelling, and other techniques. Professional skills development will be a focus, through conference presentations, workshops, and networking, to ensure the success of HQP in academic or industrial fields.  **