Bioactive functionalized polymer of malic acid for bone repair and muscle regeneration

A bioactive poly(B-hydroxyalkanoate) derived from malic acid was prepared a nd tested on bone repair and muscle regeneration. This functionalized and h ydrolyzable polymer was obtained after several steps, the first one being t he anionic copolymerization of three malolactonic acid esters. Chemical mod ifications were carried out on the terpolymer to turn benzyl-protecting gro ups into carboxyl groups and allyl groups into sulfonate groups. The result ing polymer bore carboxylate, sulfonate, and sec-butyl pendent groups in 65 /25/10 molar proportions and were aimed at interacting with heparan binding growth factors. This polymer did not present any toxic effect in cell viab ility of HepG(2) cells, over a large range of concentrations (0.01-0.25 mg l(-1)). Its ability to improve wound healing was tested in vivo and positiv e results are reported. Furthermore, the bioactivity of this polymer was ev aluated using the regeneration model of Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) rat muscle. The study displayed a significant increase in the muscle regenerat ion and maturation.