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Pure Appl. Chem., 2008, Vol. 80, No. 11, pp. 2259-2271

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200880112259

Development of biodegradable nanosheets as nanoadhesive plaster

Shinji Takeoka1,2, Yosuke Okamura1, Toshinori Fujie1 and Yoshihito Fukui1

1 Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
2 Consolidated Research Institute for Advanced Science and Medical Care, Waseda University, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan

Abstract: Sheet-shaped carriers having both obverse and reverse surfaces (thus, a large contact area for targeting a site and adhesive properties without any chemical cross-linker onto tissue surface) have several advantages as surgical dressings. These advantages include active targeting over spherically shaped carriers, which thus have an extremely small contact area for targeting sites. Here, we propose a novel methodology for preparation of a free-standing, ultra-thin, and biocompatible polymer nanosheet having heterosurfaces, fabricated through macromolecular assembly. In the context of biomedical applications, the targeted properties include injectable sheet-shaped drug carriers having precisely controlled size by exploiting micropatterned substrate, and giant polymer nanosheets composed of biocompatible polysaccharides. A huge aspect ratio, in excess of 106, is particularly applicable for novel surgical dressings. These biocompatible polymer nanosheets having heterosurfaces can thus be regarded as new biomaterials for minimally invasive treatment.