Synthesis and characterization of poly(antioxidant β-amino esters) for controlled release of polyphenolic antioxidants

Attenuation of cellular oxidative stress, which plays a central role in biomaterial-induced inflammation, provides an exciting opportunity to control the host tissue response to biomaterials. In the case of biodegradable polymers, biomaterial-induced inflammation is often a result of local accumulation of polymer degradation products, hence there is a need for new biomaterials that can inhibit this response. Antioxidant polymers, which have antioxidants incorporated into the polymer backbone, are a class of biomaterials that, upon degradation, release active antioxidants, which can scavenge free radicals and attenuate oxidative stress, resulting in improved material biocompatibility. In this work, we have synthesized poly(antioxidant β-amino ester) (PAβAE) biodegradable hydrogels of two polyphenolic antioxidants, quercetin and curcumin. The degradation characteristics of PAβAE hydrogels and the antioxidant activity of PAβAE degradation products were studied. Treatment of endothelial cells with PAβAE degradation products protected cells from hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress.