Ming Zeng

The new main-chain benzoxazine copolymer oligomers with bulky hydrocarbon end groups are first designed and synthesized. In particular, the aliphatic diamine based copolymers owning low dielectric constants (<3) and ultralow dielectric losses (<0.005) under high frequencies, is suitable for applications in the field of high-frequency communications. Therefore, this work not only provides a facile and effective protocol to simultaneously obtain excellent high-frequency dielectric properties, and improved processing and thermal properties of benzoxazine resins, but also widens the scope of the design and synthesis of functional and high-performance thermosetting polymers.

Current therapies for most neurodegenerative disorders are only symptomatic in nature and do not change the course of the disease. Gene therapy plays an important role in disease modifying therapeutic strategies. Herein, we have designed and optimized a series of highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s (HPAEs) containing biodegradable disulfide units in the HPAE backbone (HPAESS) and guanidine moieties (HPAESG) at the extremities. The optimized polymers are used to deliver minicircle DNA to multipotent adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) and astrocytes, and high transfection efficiency is achieved (77% in human ADSCs and 52% in primary astrocytes) whilst preserving over 90% cell viability. Furthermore, the top-performing candidate mediates high levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) secretion from astrocytes, causing neurite outgrowth from a model neuron cell line. This synergistic gene delivery system provides a viable method for highly efficient non-viral transfection of ADSCs and astrocytes.