Electroactive Biodegradable Polymers with Photoacoustic Contrast
ID# 2015-4387
Technology Summary
Citrate-based biodegradable photoluminescent polymers (BPLPs) with pendant aniline tetramers (ATs) have been developed by Penn State researchers. The addition of ATs provides similar electroactivity to polyaniline but with improved mechanical properties, biocompatibility/biodegradability, and solubility. The pendant ATs also endow these so-called BPLPATs with photoacoustic contrast, allowing for dual-mode photoacoustic/fluorescence imaging. These capabilities enable high-resolution, high-contrast bioimaging of films, scaffolds, or nanoparticles comprising BPLPATs, even when implanted within deep tissue (i.e., depths > 2 cm). The SEM images in the figure above show that BPLPAT films promote neurite formation even without electrical stimulation (Control, top row), although electrical stimulation helps generate more and longer neurites (ES, bottom row).
Application & Market Utility
Bioimaging is a vital component of theranostic systems, and multimodal bioimaging has garnered extensive attention recently because of its ability to provide more comprehensive spatiotemporal information to assess biomaterials in situ. In contrast to the complex, multicomponent design of traditional theranostic systems, biomaterials comprising BPLPATs integrate dual-mode photoacoustic/fluorescence imaging with electroactive and photothermal therapeutic capabilities via a convenient, efficient, cost-effective, catalyst-free, one-pot polycondensation reaction.
Next Steps
Seeking research collaboration and licensing opportunities.