Sachiro Kakinoki

Inducing Rapid Cellular Response on RGD-Binding Threaded Macromolecular Surfaces

The rapid response of integrin β1 molecules to an RGD peptide on a dynamic polyrotaxane surface was successfully induced. As a result, RGD peptides introduced on a highly dynamic cyclodextrin molecule enhanced the frequency of contact with specific integrin molecules on the cell membrane at the early stage of material-cell interactions.

Reduced platelets and bacteria adhesion on poly(ether ether ketone) by photoinduced and self‐initiated graft polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine

Aromatic poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is a super engineering plastic, which has good mechanical properties and is resistant to physical and chemical stimuli. We have, therefore, attempted to use PEEK in cardiovascular devices. Synthetic cardiovascular devices require both high hemocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity in addition to the mechanical properties. We modified the PEEK surface by photoinduced and self-initiated graft polymerization with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC; PMPC-grafted PEEK) for obtaining good antithrombogenicity. Polymerization was carried out on the surface of PEEK under radiation of ultraviolet (UV) light during which we controlled monomer concentrations, temperatures, and UV intensities. The biological performance of the PMPC-grafted PEEK was examined and compared with that of unmodified PEEK. With increase in the thickness of the PMPC layer, the amount of fibrinogen adsorption decreased significantly in comparison to that in the case of unmodified PEEK. When placed in contact with human platelet-rich plasma, surface of the PMPC-grafted PEEK clearly showed inhibition of platelet adhesion and activation. Also, bacterial adhesion was reduced dramatically on the PMPC-grafted PEEK. Thus, the PMPC grafting on PEEK improved the antithrombogenicity.

Designing dynamic surfaces for regulation of biological responses

ABA block copolymers composed of highly methylated polyrotaxane and hydrophobic anchoring terminal segments containing 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and n-butyl methacrylate (PMB) (OMe-PRX-PMB) were synthesized as a platform of molecularly dynamic biomaterials. A contact angle measurement indicated that polymer surfaces with higher molecular mobility factors (Mf) estimated from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) measurements showed more significant changes in hydrophilicity in response to an environmental change between air and water; the OMe-PRX-PMB surface showed the highest Mf among the prepared polymer surfaces. Fibrinogen adsorption and its conformational analysis estimated by QCM-D and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that large amounts of fibrinogen adsorption occurred in a soft manner on the OMe-PRX-PMB surface and that the antibody binding to the C-terminus of the fibrinogen γ chains responsible for platelet adhesion and activation decreased as the Mf value increased. Furthermore, it was found that the OMe-PRX-PMB surface showed low platelet adhesion and high fibroblast adhesion, suggesting that molecular movement on biomaterial surfaces could be one of the key parameters in the regulation of a non-specific biological response.

The significance of hydrated surface molecular mobility in the control of the morphology of adhering fibroblasts

The effects of the hydrated molecular mobility and the surface free energy of polymer surfaces on fibronectin adsorption and fibroblast adhesion were investigated. ABA-type block copolymers composed of polyrotaxane (PRX) with different number of threaded α-cyclodextrin (α-CD), random copolymers with similar chemical composition to the PRX block copolymers, and conventional polymers were prepared to determine a wide range of hydrated molecular mobility (Mf) values estimated by quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) measurements. Fibronectin adsorption was highly dependent on surface free energy, and high surface fibronectin density resulted in a large projected cell area on the polymer surfaces. However, the morphology of adhering fibroblasts was not explained by the surface free energy, but it was found to be strongly dependent on the Mf values of the polymer surfaces in aqueous media. These results emphasize the importance of Mf in the discussion of the elongated morphology of adhering fibroblasts on various polymer surfaces.

Preparation of poly-lactic acid microspheres containing the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 with medium-chain triglyceride and the in vitro evaluation of release profiles

TNP-470 (AGM-1470, 6-0-(N-chloroacetylcarbamoyl)-fumagillol), a derivative of fumagillin, is a promising angiogenesis inhibitor. However, as TNP-470 is very unstable in in vitro and in vivo, it has been difficult to verify its pharmacological efficacy in the clinical medicine. The preparation of a drug delivery system (DDS) in a microsphere form was studied for the stable inclusion and controlled release of TNP-470. Medium-chain triglyceride (MCTG) as an effective stabilizer and poly-lactic acid (PLA) as a biodegradable carrier were used for this purpose. The release of TNP-470 from the MCTG containing DDS continued for approximately 2 weeks, while the release of TNP-470 from the one without MCTG stopped after only 5 days. It was proved that TNP-470 could be released much more stable for much longer period from the MCTG containing DDS compared to the one without DDS.

Temperature and pH responsiveness of poly-(DMAA-co-unsaturated carboxylic acid) hydrogels synthesized by UV-irradiation

Abstract Stimuli-responsive polyampholyte hydrogels were synthesized by the copolymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAA) and acrylic acid (AAc) or itaconic acid (IAc) by UV-irradiation. Temperature and pH responsiveness of these hydrogels were studied. The temperature responsiveness of poly-(DMAA-co-AAc, IAc) hydrogels shown in change of water content became dull compared to that of DMAA homo-polymer hydrogel. The water content of the poly-(DMAA-co-AAc, IAc) hydrogels showed a minimum at pH 8, and increased in more acidic and alkaline regions. This fact can be attributed to the coexistence of anions and cations in the poly-(DMAA-co-AAc, IAc) hydrogels. The poly-(DMAA-co-AAc, IAc) hydrogels were polyampholyte having both temperature responsiveness and pH responsiveness.

Directing Stem Cell Differentiation by Changing the Molecular Mobility of Supramolecular Surfaces

Polymer surfaces with a wide range of hydrated surface mobility are developed by a simple deposition method with supramolecular block copolymers. The morphologies of adhering stem cells are greatly dependent on the surface mobility of polymers, and this induces significant changes in the cytoskeletal signaling pathway to direct the downstream stem cell differentiation.

Effects of molecular architecture of phospholipid polymers on surface modification of segmented polyurethanes

To modify the surface properties of segmented polyurethane (SPU), effects of the molecular architecture of the 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers on the performance of the SPU/MPC polymer membrane were investigated. We combined the random-type, block-type, and graft-type of the MPC polymers with a typical SPU, Tecoflex® using double solution casting procedure. The graft-type MPC polymers composed of a poly(MPC) main chain and poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA)) side chains were synthesized through the combination of two different living radical polymerization techniques to regulate the density and chain length of the side chains. The SPU membranes modified with the MPC polymers were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the MPC units were located on the SPU surface. Although the breaking strength of the SPU membranes modified with block-type poly(MPC-block-EHMA) and graft-type poly(MPC-graft-EHMA) was lower than that of SPU membranes modified with random-type poly(MPC-random-EHMA), their breaking strengths were adequate for manufacturing medical devices. On the other hand, better stability was observed in the MPC polymer layer on the SPU membrane after immersion in an aqueous medium, wherein the SPU membrane had been modified with the poly(MPC-graft-EHMA). This was because of the intermixing of the hydrophobic poly(EHMA) segments in the domain of the hard segments in the SPU membrane. After this modification, each SPU/MPC polymer membrane showed hydrophilic nature based on the MPC polymers and a dramatic suppression of protein adsorption. From these results, we concluded that the SPU membrane modified with the poly(MPC-graft-EHMA) was one of the promising polymeric biomaterials for making blood-contacting medical devices.

Stable modification of poly(lactic acid) surface with neurite outgrowth-promoting peptides via hydrophobic collagen-like sequence.

Surface modification of poly(dl-lactic acid) (PLA) scaffolds has been performed using a biofunctional small peptide composed of collagen-like repetitive sequence and laminin-derived sequence (AG73-G(3)-(PPG)(5)) via hydrophobic interaction. The results of surface analysis suggest that AG73-G(3)-(PPG)(5) can be stably adsorbed onto PLA films via hydrophobic interaction at the (PPG)(5) region, and form an extracellular matrix-like layer composed of both structural and biosignalling sequences. In addition, neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells was observed on the AG73-G(3)-(PPG)(5)-adsorbed PLA film. These results indicate that AG73-G(3)-(PPG)(5) very effectively enhances neurite outgrowth activity on PLA films. The hydrophobic adsorption of collagen-like peptide bound to biosignalling molecules may be widely applied as a surface modifier of PLA films for tissue engineering.

Durable modification of segmented polyurethane for elastic blood-contacting devices by graft-type 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine copolymer

We propose a novel application of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers for enhancing the performance of modified segmented polyurethane (SPU) surfaces for the development of a small-diameter vascular prosthesis. The SPU membranes were modified by random-type, block-type, and graft-type MPC polymers that were prepared using a double-solution casting procedure on stainless steel substrates. Among these MPC polymers, the graft-type poly(MPC-graft-2-ethylhexyl methacrylate [EHMA]), which is composed of a poly(MPC) segment as the main chain and poly(EHMA) segments as side chains, indicated a higher stability on the SPU membrane after being peeled off from the stainless steel substrate, as well as after immersion in an aqueous medium. This stability was caused by the intermiscibility in the domain of the poly(EHMA) segments and the soft segments of the SPU membrane. Each SPU/MPC polymer membrane exhibited a dramatic suppression of protein adsorption from human plasma and endothelium cell adhesion. Based on these results, the performance of SPU/poly(MPC-graft-EHMA) tubings 2 mm in diameter as vascular prostheses was investigated. Even after blood was passed through the tubings for 2 min, the graft-type MPC polymers effectively protected the blood-contacting surfaces from thrombus formation. In summary, SPU modified by graft-type MPC polymers has the potential for practical application in the form of a non-endothelium, small-diameter vascular prosthesis.