TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-assembling biomaterials
T2 - L-lysine-dendron-substituted cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)n̄
AU - Klok, Harm Anton
AU - Hwang, Julia J.
AU - Hartgerink, Jeffrey D.
AU - Stupp, Samuel I
PY - 2002/7/30
Y1 - 2002/7/30
N2 - This report describes the synthesis and supramolecular organization of a novel class of linear-dendritic block copolymers. The molecules, which are termed rodcoil dendrons, consist of a cholesterol moiety that is attached to L-lysine dendrons of three different generations via a biodegradable oligo(L-lactic acid)n̄ spacer. Whereas the molecules exhibit very poor ordering in the dry state, different supramolecular morphologies were observed in the hydrated state. Cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)23̄-(L-lysine)G1 and cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)23̄-(L-lysine)G2 self-assemble into lamellar structures with periodicities that depend on degree of hydration. At low degrees of hydration, lamellar ordering was also observed for cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)22̄-(L-lysine)G3. However, at 50 wt%, water steric hindrance in the highly hydrated L-lysine dendrons no longer allows lamellar ordering, and discrete nanosized aggregates are formed. Evidence for the formation of such nanoaggregates was obtained from dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. These rodcoil dendron biomaterials could be of potential interest as temporary molecular scaffolds for cell and tissue engineering.
AB - This report describes the synthesis and supramolecular organization of a novel class of linear-dendritic block copolymers. The molecules, which are termed rodcoil dendrons, consist of a cholesterol moiety that is attached to L-lysine dendrons of three different generations via a biodegradable oligo(L-lactic acid)n̄ spacer. Whereas the molecules exhibit very poor ordering in the dry state, different supramolecular morphologies were observed in the hydrated state. Cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)23̄-(L-lysine)G1 and cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)23̄-(L-lysine)G2 self-assemble into lamellar structures with periodicities that depend on degree of hydration. At low degrees of hydration, lamellar ordering was also observed for cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)22̄-(L-lysine)G3. However, at 50 wt%, water steric hindrance in the highly hydrated L-lysine dendrons no longer allows lamellar ordering, and discrete nanosized aggregates are formed. Evidence for the formation of such nanoaggregates was obtained from dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. These rodcoil dendron biomaterials could be of potential interest as temporary molecular scaffolds for cell and tissue engineering.
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U2 - 10.1021/ma011964t
DO - 10.1021/ma011964t
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0037199535
VL - 35
SP - 6101
EP - 6111
JO - Macromolecules
JF - Macromolecules
SN - 0024-9297
IS - 16
ER -