Novel poly(azoamide triazole)s containing twin azobenzene units in the backbone. Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro degradation studies

Abstract We describe the synthesis and characterization of four new light and reduction sensitives poly(azoamide triazole)s, in which the azobenzene units are found along the main chain of the macromolecule. These polymers were prepared by the azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction catalyzed with copper (I) (CuAAC). They were obtained in high yield and with apparent molecular weights in the range from 95 to 148 kDa. All poly(azoamide triazole)s are soluble in polar aprotic solvents, and two of them are also soluble in chloroform showing good coating and film-forming properties. They were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The photoisomerization study of the synthesized polymers has been carried out by UV–Vis spectroscopy, as well as their trans-cis-trans reversibility behavior. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and themogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to investigate their thermal properties. Results show that the polymers were amorphous and stable up to 300 °C under nitrogen. The hydrolytic degradation of films of these polymers has been studied in vitro under various conditions of pH and temperature and was monitored by GPC. Furthermore, the presence of azo units along the polymer backbone as cleavable groups provides access to their degradation by reduction. In this sense, the degradation of polymers has also been studied using sodium dithionite as a mimic of the enzyme azoreductase. The results of these studies show that the polymers are stable enough under hydrolytic physiological conditions, but they degrade rapidly when sodium dithionite is used. A preliminary study of biocompatibility of polymers PAAT1 and PAAT4 has been carried out. A hemolysis study with human red blood cells (hRBC) and a cytotoxicity study with human gingival fibroblasts (HGnF) have been carried out. The results obtained suggest that these polymers could be good candidates to be used as drug coating materials.