Polymers for Biomedical Applications: The Importance of Hydrophobicity in Directing Biological Interactions and Application Efficacy

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00434
• Publication Date: 2021-09-08T19:10:53Z
• Authors: Amanda K. Pearce; Rachel K. O’Reilly
• Keywords: Biomedicine; Biomaterial

The past decades have seen significant research effort in the field of polymers for a range biomedical applications, driven by promising prospect these materials realizing next generation therapeutics clinic. In this regard, it is widely accepted that polymer properties such as chemistry, charge, and block composition, well their self-assemblies including size, shape, surface biodegradation, all influence direct interactions with cells biological membranes. particular, hydrophobicity property interest, growing evidence demonstrating impact hydrophobic lipid membranes proteins can on biomaterial application efficacy within body. However, to date, phenomenon has been relatively underexplored, therefore there exists no clear universal understanding design. Perspective, we highlight important contributions field, focusing seminal studies which investigate experimentally theoretically how incorporation moieties systems ultimate when used applications. way, aim signify future directions design highly performing biomedicine, making case importance standardized computational modeling achieve applicable conclusions facilitate translational efforts.