Development and Applications of Gold Nanoparticles and Elastomeric Polymers as Biomaterials

Abstract

This thesis is focused on the development and applications of two different types of biomaterials: nanoparticles and polymers. In chapter 1, I briefly review these biomaterials. In chapter 2, we develop gold nanoparticles (GNPs) that can be driven to either self-assemble or remain colloidally stable using coiled-coil protein interactions. Control over the GNP self-assembly or stability is critical for specific biomedical applications. In chapter 3, we use the self-assembling GNPs to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) by adding a targeting ligand for HIV-1. However, we found our GNPs are weak inhibitors of HIV-1. Methods to improve the inhibitor design are then discussed. In chapter 4, a biomaterials-based approach is used to elucidate the structures of HIV-1 and human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1). A GNP immunolabeling strategy is used to identify HIV-1 and HTLV-1 envelope proteins, critical for viral entry and targets for vaccine development. However, the immunolabelling strategy was not robust, and alternative methods to study envelope proteins are discussed. Lastly, in chapter 5, a novel elastomeric polymer is evaluated for biomedical applications. PLA-PβMδVL-PLA polymers were synthesized in this work and shown to exhibit elastomeric properties. Next, the polymers were found to be biocompatible and biodegradable both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the development and applications of both gold nanoparticles and elastomeric polymers as biomaterials.