One step synthesis of an amino acid derived particles, poly(L‐Arginine) and its biomedical application

Abstract Herein, single step synthesis of poly(L‐Arginine) (p(L‐Arg)) particles was reported for the first time via microemulsion crosslinking method using tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC) as the crosslinking agent. The C‐P vibrational FT‐IR peaks of the p(L‐Arg) particles observed at 1035 cm −1 as well as elemental analysis results corroborated the successful crosslinking of native L‐Arg molecules with THCP. Spherical‐shaped p(L‐Arg) particles visualized by SEM analysis ranged 1–10 μm in size in dry state. The important parameters of p(L‐Arg) particles affecting their biomedical potential use such as degradability, blood compatibility, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were thoroughly investigated. Accordingly, 49.2 ± 6.7%, 68.1 ± 4.8%, and 62.5 ± 7.1% of the p(L‐Arg) particles were degraded at pH 5.4, 7.4, and 9.0, respectively, in about 200 h. The p(L‐Arg) particles exhibited fascinating blood compatibility with less than 4% hemolysis induction and more than 95% blood clotting index at 2 mg/mL concentration. The antioxidant activity of p(L‐Arg) particles was measured as 0.66 ± 0.06 μM Trolox equivalent g −1 by means of TEAC assay. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of L‐Arg amino acid against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145, gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, B. subtilis ATCC 6633 bacteria, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 yeast strains was significantly enhanced in the form of p(L‐Arg) particles. Furthermore, drug loading and release performances of p(L‐Arg) particles were also investigated using naproxen and riboflavin as active pharmaceuticals. Based on drug release studies performed in PBS at pH 7.4, 73.9 ± 12.6% of loaded naproxen was released in 90 min, whereas 62.1 ± 4.6% of loaded riboflavin was released in 135 min.