Aldehyde-functional thermoresponsive diblock copolymer worm gels exhibit strong mucoadhesion.

ABSTRACT: A series of thermoresponsive diblock copolymer worm gels is prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate using a water-soluble methacrylic precursor bearing pendent cis-diol groups. Selective oxidation using an aqueous solution of sodium periodate affords the corresponding aldehyde-functional worm gels. The aldehyde groups are located within the steric stabilizer chains and the aldehyde content can be adjusted by varying the periodate/cis-diol molar ratio. These aldehyde-functional worm gels are evaluated in terms of their mucoadhesion performance with the aid of a fluorescence microscopy-based assay. Using porcine urinary bladder mucosa as a model substrate, we demonstrate that t

SUBMITTER: Brotherton EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9200053 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature