UP chemists develop temperature sensitive polymers for medical use
by Bless Aubrey Ogerio, https://www.facebook.com/, https://www.facebook.com/BusinessMirror/ · BusinessMirror- Bless Aubrey Ogerio
- October 6, 2024
- 2 minute read
RESEARCHERS from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman) have successfully developed temperature-sensitive materials that could revolutionize drug delivery systems and other biomedical applications.
Thermoresponsive polymers respond to changes in temperature and offer potential uses in the safe and targeted delivery of medications such as insulin and calcitonin.
They remain stable at lower temperatures but break down and release medication when they reach the warmer environment of the human body.
Led by Ludhovik Luiz Madrid and Dr. Susan Arco from the Institute of Chemistry, along with Ser John Lynon Perez of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, the team created the polymers using an eco-friendly method that “minimizes environmental risks.”
Traditionally, producing polymers involved using harmful chemicals known as volatile organic solvents. These chemicals, typically used in industrial processes, contribute to pollution and health risks for workers.
To address this, the scientists turned to a type of solvent called hexylpyridinium ionic liquid, which significantly reduces toxicity and allows for better control over the production process. This means they can create materials with specific characteristics more effectively.
“RAFT polymerization helps control the growth of polymer chains by mitigating the formation of chains that can no longer grow (a.k.a. ‘dead’ polymers), thereby creating a narrower molecular weight distribution which can allow more tailored polymer designs or properties,” Madrid explained.
The process called Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization ensures that the growth of the polymer chains is more controlled, reducing the occurrence of ‘dead’ polymers, or chains that can no longer grow.
The polymers developed by the team are also biocompatible, or they can interact with living tissues without causing harmful reactions.
Besides their current achievement, the researchers see even more possibilities for future development.
“The results open up the potential for using other hexylpyridinium ionic liquids to create dual-responsive polymers (e.g. responsive to both temperature and pH), which are valuable for biomedical applications such as drug delivery,” Madrid added.
0 0 0 0 Share 0 Tweet 0 Pin it 0 Share 0