1. Polymer-FGM Hybrid Materials. Macromolecules, including hydroxyapatite and collagen, play key biological roles in the structure and function of bone. Synthetically, we can recapitulate the chemical motifs found in these natural macromolecules using polyphosphates or peptides and by chemically linking these biomimetic macromolecules to a graphenic backbone we can enhance their material properties with graphene to create polymer-functional graphenic material (FGM) hybrids. Polyphosphate graphene. We have developed the Lewis acid catalyzed Arbuzov reaction to install biomimetic, hydroxyapatite-like polyphosphate moieties onto GO to produce phosphate graphene (PG). This FGM is programed to release Ca2+ and PO43- “inducerons” in aqueous environments, which directs stem cell differentiation towards osteogenic lineages in vitro and recruits stem cells for ectopic bone formation in vivo. This work was recently published in PNAS (attached) and Carbon and has resulted in a patent application. Peptide graphene. To mimic the collagen found in native bone, we have developed methods to covalently attach peptides to FGMs, creating robust scaffolds with instructive surfaces. 2. Polymers. Many current scaffolds for bioregeneration are polymeric due to their versatile chemistry, tunable mechanical properties, and degradable backbones. However, these scaffolds lack bioactivity. We aim to improve current materials used to treat significant bone injuries by adding therapeutic activity to FDA-approved synthetic and natural polymers. This work has resulted in two patent applications and two papers (attached). Therapeutic methacrylate monomers. Bone cement performs at a critical interface between bone and biomaterial. However, current bone cement is comprised of PMMA, which is completely bioinert. We have developed therapeutic methacrylate monomers, that can release an instructive payload through a selectively labile tether bond. Unlike the current clinical standards in bone cement, TMAs deliver a high therapeutic concentration for a long duration without detrimental effect on the integrity of the implant-bone bond.

Chemically instructive functional graphenic materials and polymers for bone regeneration

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.