Injectable Fluorescent Bottlebrush Polymers for Interventional Procedures and Biomedical ImagingClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Yichun YuanYichun YuanDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Yichun Yuan
- Sophia BeilharzSophia BeilharzDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Sophia Beilharz
- Heather R. EversonHeather R. EversonDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Heather R. Everson
- Nehal NupnarNehal NupnarDepartment of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Nehal Nupnar
- Mithun Kumar DebnathMithun Kumar DebnathDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Mithun Kumar Debnath
- Daniele VinellaDaniele VinellaDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Daniele Vinella
- Juan Manuel UrueñaJuan Manuel UrueñaNSF BioPACIFIC MIP, University of California Santa Barbara, Elings Hall, Mesa Road, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United StatesMore by Juan Manuel Urueña
- Faruk H. ÖrgeFaruk H. ÖrgeCenter for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals Eye Institute, and Department of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Faruk H. Örge
- Michael J. A. HoreMichael J. A. HoreDepartment of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Michael J. A. Hore
- Divita MathurDivita MathurDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Divita Mathur
- Metin Karayilan*Metin Karayilan*Email: [email protected]Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Metin Karayilan
Abstract

Injectable biomaterials play a vital role in modern medicine, offering tailored functionalities for diverse therapeutic and diagnostic applications. In ophthalmology, for instance, viscoelastic materials are crucial for procedures such as cataract surgery but often leave residues, increasing postoperative risks. This study introduces injectable fluorescent viscoelastics (FluoVs) synthesized via one-step controlled radical copolymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate and fluorescein acrylate. These bottlebrush-shaped polymers exhibit enhanced fluorescence intensity for improved traceability and facile removal postsurgery. To prevent aggregation, charged terpolymers were synthesized, ensuring intra- and intermolecular electrostatic repulsion. Dynamic light scattering and energy-conserved dissipative particle dynamics simulations revealed how the fluorescein content and monomer sequence affect the hydrodynamic size of these copolymers. Biocompatibility assessments showed that FluoVs maintained cell viability comparable to commercial hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and nonfluorescent poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate) controls. The FluoVs combine high fluorescence intensity, low viscosity, and excellent biocompatibility, offering intraoperative traceability and significant advancements for ocular and bioimaging applications.
Cited By
This article has not yet been cited by other publications.
Article Views
Altmetric
Citations
Article Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.
Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.
The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated.