Metin Karayilan

Experience the full journey of thermoresponsive polymers, from benchtop to potential applications in public health ⚕️, in this RSC Applied Polymers review article by Metin Karayilan and co-authors! pubs.rsc.org/en/cont...

Injectable Fluorescent Bottlebrush Polymers for Interventional Procedures and Biomedical Imaging Injectable biomaterials play a vital role in modern medicine, offering tailored functionalities for diverse therapeutic and diagnostic applications. In ophthalmology, for instance, viscoelastic materials are crucial for procedures such as cataract surgery but often leave residues, increasing postoperative risks. This study introduces injectable fluorescent viscoelastics (FluoVs) synthesized via one-step controlled radical copolymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate and fluorescein acrylate. These bottlebrush-shaped polymers exhibit enhanced fluorescence intensity for improved traceability and facile removal postsurgery. To prevent aggregation, charged terpolymers were synthesized, ensuring intra- and intermolecular electrostatic repulsion. Dynamic light scattering and energy-conserved dissipative particle dynamics simulations revealed how the fluorescein content and monomer sequence affect the hydrodynamic size of these copolymers. Biocompatibility assessments showed that FluoVs maintained cell viability comparable to commercial hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and nonfluorescent poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate) controls. The FluoVs combine high fluorescence intensity, low viscosity, and excellent biocompatibility, offering intraoperative traceability and significant advancements for ocular and bioimaging applications.

Our research article is now published in Biomacromolecules! Huge congratulations to the entire team! @divitamathur.bsky.social @mjahore.bsky.social @pubs.acs.org

Injectable Fluorescent Bottlebrush Polymers for Interventional Procedures & Biomedical Imaging
doi.org/10.1021/acs....