Biocompatible polymers

Although naturally derived polymers offer several favorable characteristics namely biocompatibility, biodegradability and biological activity, modified natural polymers and synthetic polymers in most cases present an attractive avenue for .

Synthetic polymers are special candidates for the formulation of novel biocompatible polymers due to their:

well-studied syntheses and,
tailorable properties

In the framework of biocompatibility, we define it as the relationship between a material and the organism, so that neither provokes undesirable and toxic effects. Specifically, biocompatibility encompasses many aspects of the material, including its physical, mechanical, and chemical properties, as well as potential cytotoxic and allergenic effects.

1. Aliphatic polyesters

In more detail, we take advantage of the biodegradable and biocompatible character of aliphatic polyesters as appropriate polymer carriers to design innovative materials with adjustable properties, for biomedical applications. In fact, biocompatibility of aliphatic polyesters exists since they contain similar structural groups to natural extra cellular components. On the other hand, the degradation of polyester’s backbone in vivo prevents accumulation of the carrier material and degraded products in the body, reducing thus the risk of long-term toxicity.

More specifically, we have developed biocompatible polymeric materials, such as:

poly(ε-caprolactone) copolymers appropriate for drug micro/nanoencapsulation
poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(propylene adipate) copolymers appropriate for drug core-shell nanoencapsulation
poly(alkylene adipate) polyesters for preparation of depot microspheres as Long-Acting Injectable (LAIs) formulations
poly(butylene succinate) biodegradable polyesters with combination of appropriate, for biomedical applications, nanoadditives
poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) copolymers for the encapsulation of drug loaded mesoporous cellular foam (MCF) silica
stimuli-responsive polymeric carriers for targeted drug release

2. Natural polymers

Our research utilizes natural and biodegradable polymeric materials, to design innovative biomaterials. Chitosan, a well known low-cost biopolymer obtained from deacetylation of naturally occurred in shrimps and crab shells chitin, is extensively used by our research team. This choice results from the biodegradable, biocompatible, mucoadhesive, non-immunogenic and nontoxic nature of chitosan, with the endless use in different applications, amongst them biomedical and drug delivery research. Other polymers that we exploit are collagen, gelatin, alginate, carrageenans etc. Our latest pursuit is the use of 3D printing techniques for the design of novel macromolecular motifs for relevant purposes.

Some related achievements at this field, are the synthesis of:

modified chitosan for topical delivery of wound healing agents, in the form of effective dressings
modified chitosan’s blends for the preparation of super-hydrophilic and high strength polymeric foam dressings
antimicrobial functionalization of chitosan
micro and nanoencapsulation of drugs on natural polymers for controlled and targeted release
fabrication of collagen-based scaffolds for skin tissue engineering

In Bikiaris Lab, we explore various chemical strategies towards polymer’s science and technology, for the creation of novel polymers and functionalization of natural ones, applicable in modern fields.

Our research activity includes the design, synthesis and characterization of advanced polymeric materials with biocompatible nature, for drug delivery and tissue engineering purposes.