PolymerDrugs, Polymeric Micelles and Micropatterned Polymers:  Polymers for Biomedical Applications

ABSTRACT

The focus in my laboratory is on the synthesis and characterization of biocompatible polymers for medical and dental applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. The three main projects in my research program are briefly described as follows. First, we’ve synthesized amphiphilic macromolecules that encapsulate hydrophobic drugs to make them water-soluble, as well as to enhance the drug’s transport to the appropriate cells.  These polymer-based micelles maintain a hyperbranched hydrophobic interior (core) and hydrophilic exterior (shell), such that drugs reside in the hydrophobic core. Second, our lab has created a range of PolymerDrugs, i.e., polymers that biodegrade into therapeutically useful molecules. The first example was a poly(anhydride-esters) that yielded salicylic acid, the active component of aspirin.  This polymeric system (aka PolyAspirin) is the first example in which the polymer itself is a controlled-release system: the polymer backbone degrades into salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic compound.  Third, using microcontact-printing methods developed for inorganic substrates, micron-sized striped patterns of protein are generated on polymer substrates.  Various micro- and nano-patterning methods are being developed that are widely applicable to a range of biocompatible substrates using a variety of protein, peptide and polymer inks.

BIOSKETCH

Dr. Kathryn Uhrich is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Rutgers University.  She received a B.S. degree (1986) in Chemistry at the University of North Dakota, and Ph.D. degree (1992) in Organic Chemistry from Cornell University [Prof. Jean Frechet].  Before moving to her present post at Rutgers in 1995, she held post-doctoral positions at AT&T Bell Laboratories [Dr. Elsa Reichmanis] in 1992 and Massachusetts Institute of Technology [Prof. Robert Langer] in 1993-95.  Trained in organic and polymer synthesis, her research interests have included linear and dendritic polymers; photoresists; and biomaterials for bone replacement.  The focus of her current research is the synthesis and characterization of biocompatible polymers for medical and dental applications, mainly drug delivery and tissue engineering, funded by National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.  Kathryn has received the Johnson & Johnson Discovery (1996), Hoechst Celanese Innovative Research (1996 and 1997), and National Science Foundation CAREER (2000) awards for her research and was recently elected a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2003).  She is co-founder of Polymerix, the 2003 recipient of New Jersey's "Best Life Sciences/Healthcare Company”.  Recent awards include the Thomas Alva Edison patent award (2003) and New Jersey’s “Outstanding Scientist in Biomedical Research” award (2004).  Currently, she is co-Director of an NSF IGERT program on “Biointerfaces” (2004-present).