This presentation will cover several recent advances in the development of light-degradable polymers as tools for biological research and drug delivery, including a strategy for chemically amplifying the light signal to accelerate degradation, a polymer responsive to visible rather than UV or near infrared light, and application of a previously reported polymer to the treatment of disease. The chemical amplification strategy relies on phototriggered unmasking of acidic groups that hydrolyze adjacent ketals, which overcomes ketals’ requirement of low pH for efficient degradation. Particles composed of the photocaged-acid/ ketal polymer degrade rapidly upon brief irradiation. The diversification of wavelengths useful for triggered degradation of soft materials involves a photocage not previously used in responsive materials, which cleaves in hydrophobic environments (unlike coumarins), and absorbs light from 400-500 nm. Particles composed of this polymer, when subcutaneously injected and irradiated through tissue, release sufficient drug to significantly reduce carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in mice. Finally, we have evidence that a UV-degradable polymer (Fomina et al., <i>J Am Chem Soc</i> 2010) may be useful for the delivery of anti-angiogenics to treat macular degeneration. This strategy would preserve clinician control over dose timing while reducing the frequency of intravitreal injections. UV-degradable particles are stable in the eye for months and release a therapeutically effective dose of a small molecule anti-angiogenic; the irradiation required for release is well-tolerated by the eye

Light-degradable polymers: amplification strategies, response to new wavelengths, and application to a clinical challenge

249th National Meeting (2015)

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