Biodegradable Polyphosphazenes for Regenerative Engineering

Feiyang Chen; O R Teniola; Cato T Laurencin

doi:10.1557/s43578-022-00551-z

Biodegradable Polyphosphazenes for Regenerative Engineering

J Mater Res. 2022 Apr;37(8):1417-1428. doi: 10.1557/s43578-022-00551-z. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Authors

Feiyang Chen¹, O R Teniola^{1

2}, Cato T Laurencin^{1

3

4

5

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
³ Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center for Biomedical, Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut.
⁴ Connecticut Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
⁵ Connecticut Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut.
⁶ Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
⁷ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
⁸ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.

Abstract

Regenerative engineering is a field that seeks to regenerate complex tissues and biological systems, rather than simply restore and repair individual tissues or organs. Since the first introduction of regenerative engineering in 2012, numerous research has been devoted to the development of this field. Biodegradable polymers such as polyphosphazenes in particular have drawn significant interest as regenerative engineering materials for their synthetic flexibility in designing into materials with a wide range of mechanical properties, degradation rates, and chemical functionality. These polyphosphazenes can go through complete hydrolytic degradation and provide harmlessly and pH neutral buffering degradation products such as phosphates and ammonia, which is crucial for reducing inflammation in vivo. Here, we discuss the current accomplishments of polyphosphazene, different methods for synthesizing them, and their applications in tissue regeneration such as bones, nerves, and elastic tissues.

Keywords: Polyphosphazene; Regenerative engineering; Synthesis; Tissue regeneration.

Grants and funding

T32 AR079114/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States