Fully degradable hydrophilic polyals for protein modification.

Modification of proteins with hydrophilic polymers is an effective strategy for regulation of protein pharmacokinetics. However, conjugates of slowly or non-biodegradable materials, such as poly(ethylene glycol), are known to cause long-lasting cell vacuolization, in particular in renal epithelium. Conjugates of more degradable polymers, e.g., polysaccharides, have a significant risk of immunotoxicity. Polymers that combine complete degradability, long circulation in vivo, and low immuno and chemical toxicity would be most beneficial as protein conjugate components. This study explores new fully biodegradable hydrophilic polymers, hydrophilic polyals. They are nontoxic, stable at physiological conditions, and undergo proton-catalyzed hydrolysis at lysosomal pH. The model enzyme-polyal conjugates were prepared with 61-98% yield using conventional and novel conjugation techniques and retained 90-95% of specific activity. The model conjugates showed a significant prolongation of protein circulation in rodents, with a 5-fold reduction in the renal accumulation. The data suggests that hydrophilic polyals may be useful in designing protein conjugates with improved properties.

Semisynthetic hydrophilic polyals.

Non-bioadhesive, fully biodegradable soluble polymers would be very instrumental in advanced biomedical applications, such as gene and drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, rational development of such materials is hindered by the complexity of macromolecule interactions with biological milieu. The prevalence of carbohydrates in naturally occurring interface structures suggests an alternative, biomimetic approach. Interface carbohydrates, regardless of their biological function, have common non-signaling substructures (e.g., acetal and ketal groups, secondary and primary alcohols). We hypothesized that hydrophilic polymers (polyals) consisting of acyclic units built of non-signaling carbohydrate substructures would be highly biocompatible and non-bioadhesive, while intrachain acetal or ketal groups would enable nonenzymatic biodegradation upon uptake by cells. Acyclic hydrophilic polyals can be prepared via either polymerization of suitable monomers or lateral cleavage of cyclic polyals (e.g., polysaccharides). In this study, model polyals were produced via lateral cleavage of polyaldoses and polyketoses. Best results were achieved using dextran B-512 as a precursor. The resultant poly[hydroxymethylethylene hydroxymethylformal], in agreement with the hypothesis, demonstrated excellent biological properties and technological flexibility. Materials of this type can potentially have several applications in pharmacology and bioengineering.