A new fatty-acid-derived polymer adhesive could be used to perform delicate surgeries on fetuses still in the womb. The polymer is made of alpha-lipoic acid, a short-chain fatty acid and antioxidant produced by the mitochondria of cells; as a co-factor for enzymes that break down nutrients, it’s commonly available as a nutritional supplement.
When heated, alpha-lipoic acid undergoes ring-opening polymerization, forming a sticky polymer with a disulfide backbone. However, the polymer undergoes reduction and depolymerizes at room temperature and pressure. This rapid depolymerization had limited the use of poly(α-lipoic acid) as an adhesive.
Subhajit Pal, a postdoctoral researcher in the bioengineering lab of Phillip Messersmith at the Univ. of California Los Angeles, wondered if he could stabilize the polymer by modifying the alpha-lipoic acid monomers.
“This is one of those occasions when a member of the lab does something basically out of curiosity and finds positive results,” says Messersmith.
By modifying the acid end of the monomer with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), Pal found that he could interfere with the depolymerization reaction. He made two versions of these NHS stabilizers, which functioned by reacting with the...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
