Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) result form an accident in which the brain violently collides with the inside of the skull. This collision results in swelling of the brain and possible bruising and internal bleeding. Such hemorrhaging complicates TBI because it causes hypotension, thus limiting the amount of oxygen being supplied to the damaged brain tissue. In an effort to develop emergency treatments which instantly improve the oxygen transport to the brain, the latest generation of Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOC’s), Polynitroxyl Pegylated Hemoglobin (PNPH), containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxidyl (TEMPO) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) have been approved by phase III clinical trials. PEG and TEMPO mitigate the toxicity of cell-free hemoglobin and the use of PNPH’s have shown a positive impact on the cerebral blood flow in animal models. We will present our research which is focused on synthesizing multifunctional polymers containing a well-defined PEG and TEMPO groups to be covalently attached to cell-free hemoglobin. For this purpose, we synthesized functional poly(meth)acrylates containing a dimethylamino groups via Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerization in a controlled fashion with average molecular weights between 1500-8000 g/mol. The ancillary NMe<sub>2</sub> groups were functionalized with chloroacetate end groups of TEMPO and PEG derivatives in quantitative fashion allowing for the control of functional group density and composition on the polymer as proven via <sup>1</sup>H NMR analysis.

Synthesis of multifunctional, well-defined polyacrylates as precursors to superior hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

2019 Spring National Meeting

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