The effect of gold clusters on the autoxidation of poly(3-hydroxy 10-undecenoate-co-3-hydroxy octanoate) and tissue response evaluation

We describe the synthesis and characterization of gold clusters embedded into poly (3-hydroxy octanoate-co-3-hydroxy-10-undecenoate) (PHOU), and evaluated the tissue response of the material upon implantation onto muscle tissue (rat). For this aim, PHOU was obtained by Pseudomonas oleovorans from octanoic acid (OA) and 10-undecenoic acid (UA) with a weight ratio of 50:50. The unsaturated co-polyester film in which HAuCl4 was dispersed was exposed to air at room temperature to produce gold clusters embedded into cross-linked PHOU. The cross-linking kinetics of the gold catalyzed PHOU autoxidation was followed by sol-gel analysis. In vivo tissue reactions of the cross-linked PHOU embedded gold clusters were evaluated by subcutaneous implantation in rats. The rats appeared to be healthy throughout the implantation period. No symptom such as necrosis, abscess or tumor genesis was observed in the vicinity of the implants. Retrieved materials varied in their physical appearance after 6 weeks of implantation. AFM and SEM micrographs of the PHOU containing gold clusters were also taken.