| POLYMERS Vol.69 No.9 |
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COVER STORY
Clever Polymers |
| COVER STORY: Highlight Reviews |
| Smart Polymers Using Molecular Interactions | Takashi MIYATA |
| <Abstract> Smart polymers have a unique property in that they undergo drastic changes in the structures and properties in response to environmental changes. Nano-, micro- and macro-sized smart polymers and materials such as particles, capsules, films and gels have been strategically designed using molecular interactions. Their fascinating properties suggest that they have many future opportunities as smart biomaterials for designing drug delivery systems, biosensors and cell cultures. A variety of smart polymers has become increasingly important because of their potential applications in medical and biochemical fields. This article provides a short overview of current research in the design of smart polymers using molecular interactions for medical and biochemical applications. Keywords: Smart Polymer / Stimuli-Responsive Polymer / Molecular Interaction / Biomaterial / Drug Delivery System / Sensor / Cell Regulation |
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| Intelligent Nanohybrids Based on Biomembranes for Potential Biomedical Applications | Yoshihiro SASAKI |
| <Abstract> Biomembranes that change their morphology in response to environmental stimuli can be regarded as one of the ultimate “smart molecular system” present in nature. This highlight review describes the fabrication of intelligent materials based on biological membranes. Specifically, functionalization by hybrids of liposomes and exosomes as artificial cell membranes with inorganic substances and polymers, control of membrane morphology, complexation with membrane proteins, will be outlined. Keywords: Biomembrane / Smart Molecular System / Liposome / Exosome / Membrane Morphology / Membrane Protein |
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| COVER STORY: Topics and Products |
| Biofunctional Materials for Regenerative Medicine and Disease Researches | Masaya YAMAMOTO, Nobuyuki MORIMOTO |
| <Abstract> The biological system constructed through evolution for many years functions extremely precisely. This function is realized by “smart materials” based on multi-dimensions, multi-hierarchies, and multi-scales, from molecules to macro-level. Biofunctional materials have been widely designed by either mimicking the biological system or modulating biological functions. Their application is extremely wide, ranging from medicine such as biomaterials to industry such as biomimetic materials. In this article, we introduce several polymeric biofunctional materials to be used for regenerative medicine and disearse researches. Keywords: Biofunctional Materials / Biomaterials / Regenerative Medicine / In vitro Disease Model / Stimuli-Responsive Polymers |
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| Stimuli-Responsive Polymers for Bioseparation | Kenichi NAGASE, Hideko KANAZAWA |
| <Abstract> Recently, biopharmaceuticals and therapeutic cells have been effective drugs for treating intractable diseases. In their production of them, effective separation methods without losing biological activity are strongly demanded. In this issue, we reported the recently developed bioseparation methods using thermoresponsive polymers. Compound of cold medicines were separated using chromatography columns prepared by packing of thermoresponsive polymer modified beads and anionic polymer modified beads. Proteins were separated with temperature-responsive mixed mode chromatography columns using silica beads modifeid with mixed polymer brush composed of thermoresponsive and cationic polymers. Cells for vascular tissue engineering were separated using thermoresponsive anionic polymer brush modified glass plates. Additionally, temperature-modulated cell separation column was developed using thermoresponsive cationic copolymer modified beads as packing materials. These findings suggested that the developed bioseparations using thermoresponsive polymers would be effective separation techniques for various types of biopharmaceuticals and therapeutic cells. Keywords: Thermoresponsive Polymer / Bioseparation / Polymer Brush / Biopharmaceuticals / Regenerative Medicine / Tissue Engineering / Chromatography |
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| Biomaterials and Pharmaceutical Applications of Stimuli-Labile Polyrotaxanes | Atsushi TAMURA, Nobuhiko YUI |
| <Abstract> Polyrotaxanes are a class of supermolecules composed of many cyclic molecules threaded onto a linear polymer chain capped with bulky stopper molecules. Because the cyclic molecules are mechanically interlocked onto the axle polymer, the polyrotaxanes-based materials show unique functions compared with conventional polymers. The stimuli-induced dissociation character of polyrotaxanes is acquired when biocleavable linkers are introduced in the axle polymer or bulky stoppers. Because the degradation mechanism for the cleavable polyrotaxanes are essentially different from conventional biodegradable polymers, the cleavable polyrotaxanes have great potential in the field of biomaterials and pharmaceutics. In this review, the design of stimuli-labile polyrotaxanes and their biomaterials and pharmaceutical applications are described. Keywords: Polyrotaxane / Cyclodextrin / Supermolecule / Biodegradability / Biomaterials / Drug Delivery System / Cholesterol |
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| Smart Polymer Functioning on Cellular Surface | Yuji TERAMURA, Kazuhiko ISHIHARA |
| <Abstract> Polymer materials, which are bio-inspired by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) can stimulate cells to realize highly organized structures of living cells. For example, poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated phospholipid (PEG-lipid) is interacting with the cellular membrane by weak hydrophobic interaction, and the PEG-lipid carrying functional molecules can be available for mimicking CAMs like selectin, cadherin. Combination of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) with PEG-lipid can induce specific cell-matrix interaction and cell-cell interaction like cadherins, which make it possible to form 2D and 3D cell structures. In addition, the use of oligopeptides, which has a high affinity for selectin, can be used to induce those specific cellular interactions like cadherin. Thus, those bio-inspired polymer materials can be useful for the fields of biomedical and bioelectronics etc. Keywords: PEG-Lipid / Amphiphilic Polymer / Cell Adhesion Molecules / Cell Adhesion / Cell-Cell Interaction |
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| Self-Propelled Protein Microtube Motors in Water | Teruyuki KOMATSU |
| <Abstract> Cylindrical hollow structures can perform different tasks in three separate locations: the inner surface, tube wall, and outer surface. Self-propelled microtube motors have been of particular interest recently. Using wet-template synthesis with layer-by-layer assembly in a track-etched polycarbonate membrane, we fabricated protein microtube motors having an internal wall composed of Pt nanoparticles or catalase. The obtained tubules (1.2 μm outer diameter, 24 μm length) are self-propelled in aqueous H2O2 solution by jetting O2 bubbles from the open-end terminus. The microtube motors can capture E. coli and hemagglutinin (virus surface protein). Furthermore, the self-stirring motion of the enzyme-covered microtubes accelerated the catalytic reaction. The protein microtube motors having a urease interior surface swam smoothly with non-bubble propulsion in urea solution. The most important advantage of the all-protein microtubes would be possible immobilization of different enzymes with the desired arrangement in the stratiform wall, which can accomplish a functional relay of sequential enzyme reactions. Keywords: Proteins / Enzymes / Microtubes / Layer-by-Layer Assembly / Self-Propulsion / Pt Nanoparticles / Catalase / Urease |
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| Polymer Science and I: A Personal Account |
| In Spacious Chemistry World | Shogo AMEMORI |
| <Abstract> In my research career, I sometimes have struggled with the originality of my study due to a profoundness of chemistry. However I believe that huge fact knowledge in chemistry helps us to create a novel idea and overcome experimental problems. I want to be a researcher gracefully swimming in the spacious chemistry world. |
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| Front-Line Polymer Science |
| Controlled Polymerization for Development of Biofunctional Polymers | Yoshiko MIURA, Yu HOSHINO |
| <Abstract> Controlled polymerization enables synthetic polymers with precise structures, which have the potential for excellent bio-functional materials. This review summarizes the applications of controlled polymers, especially those via living radical polymerization, to biofunctional polymers. In the case of synthetic polymer ligands, the polymers controlled the interaction with proteins based on well-defined structures. The polymer fusion with biopolymers and cells were also investigated via controlled polymerization. The polymer conjugations are advantageous for the development of biofunctional polymers and useful for understanding biology. Keywords: Living Radical Polymerization / Biofunctional Polymer / Glycopolymer / Discrete Oligomer / Protein Modification / Antibody Modification / Cell Surface Engineering |
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