Artificial polymers biocompatible

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) have been extensively studied due to the fact that they combine similar stimulus response properties to other artificial polymers such as poly(iV-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) with the advantages of a biologically derived material, that is, it is biocompatible, modular in its composition, and can be obtained by biological processes. ELPs are polypeptides that contain a short, repetitive peptide sequence, most commonly (VPGXG) that is derived from tropoelastin, the precursor of elastin. In this sequence, X represents any amino acid sequence except proline. Polypeptides composed of the pentapeptide repeat unit VPGXG possess a reversible lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Below the LCST, the peptide is soluble... 

The presence of polymer, solvent, and ionic components in conducting polymers reminds one of the composition of the materials chosen by nature to produce muscles, neurons, and skin in living creatures. We will describe here some devices ready for commercial applications, such as artificial muscles, smart windows, or smart membranes other industrial products such as polymeric batteries or smart mirrors and processes and devices under development, such as biocompatible nervous system interfaces, smart membranes, and electron-ion transducers, all of them based on the electrochemical behavior of electrodes that are three dimensional at the molecular level. During the discussion we will emphasize the analogies between these electrochemical systems and analogous biological systems. Our aim is to introduce an electrochemistry for conducting polymers, and by extension, for any electrodic process where the structure of the electrode is taken into account. 

New natural polymers based on synthesis from renewable resources, improved recyclability based on retrosynthesis to reusable precursors, and molecular suicide switches to initiate biodegradation on demand are the exciting areas in polymer science. In the area of biomolecular materials, new materials for implants with improved durability and biocompatibility, light-harvesting materials based on biomimicry of photosynthetic systems, and biosensors for analysis and artificial enzymes for bioremediation will present the breakthrough opportunities. Finally, in the field of electronics and photonics, the new challenges are molecular switches, transistors, and other electronic components molecular photoad-dressable memory devices and ferroelectrics and ferromagnets based on nonmetals. 

Jauregui, H., Hayner. N.. Solomon, B., and GaUetti, P. Hybrid Artificial Liver, in Biocompatible Polymers. Metals, and Composites. Szycher, M., Ed., Technomics Publishing, Lancaster. PA, 1983, chap. 39. 

Moro T, Takatori Y, Ishihara K, Konno T, Takigawa Y, Matsushita T, Chung U-I, Nakamura K, Kawaguchi H. Surface grafting of artificial joints with a biocompatible polymer for preventing periprosthetic osteolysis. Nature Materials 2004, 3, 829-836. 

The long quest for blood-compatible materials to some extent overshadows the vast number of other applications of polymers in medicine. Development and testing of biocompatible materials have in fact been pursued by a significant number of chemical engineers in collaboration with physicians, with incremental but no revolutionary results to date. Progress is certainly evident, however the Jarvik-7 artificial heart is largely built from polymers [34]. Much attention has been focused on new classes of materials, such... 

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