Contact of blood with the surfaces of synthetic materials is associated with spontaneous protein adsorption, initiating platelet aggregation, the coagulation cascade, and the eventual development of a stable clot. Current therapy to inhibit implant-induced thrombosis is life-long administration of systemic anticoagulants. An alternative to the systemic administration of anticoagulant drugs...
As a major natural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM),
hyaluronic acid (HA) is an excellent choice for biomimetic, biocompatible
therapeutic materials. Furthermore, thiol-modified forms of HA are capable of
forming macroporous hydrogels that allow for both controlled cytokine release and
extensive vessel in-growth. It has previously been shown that...
Nisin, an antibacterial peptide proven to be an effective inhibitor of Gram-positive bacteria, was incorporated into novel block copolymer constructs and tested for retained antibacterial activity. Covalent coupling was achieved by chemical modification of the N-terminal isoleucine to introduce a thiol group. Thiolated nisin derivatives were then linked to poly[ethylene...