Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damage is a major cause of tissue necrosis during skin flap ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, existing antioxidant materials often show limited scavenging efficiency, poor injectability, or inadequate controllability. Here, we synthesized an injectable copolymer, poly(eTEGA-co-LA), via AIBN-initiated free-radical copolymerization. By integrating α-lipoic acid (ALA), a ROS-responsive thioether antioxidant, into the polymer backbone, the material achieves active elimination of multiple ROS, while tri(ethylene glycol) ether units maintain thermoresponsive behavior and injectability. Poly(eTEGA-co-LA) exhibits an adjustable lower critical solution temperature (LCST), excellent cytocompatibility, and sustained scavenging activity against various ROS, including DPPH radicals, hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and hypochlorous acid (HClO). In a rat random-pattern skin flap I/R model, the material improved microcirculatory perfusion, reduced distal necrosis, and helped preserve tissue structure, indicating significant in vivo protection against oxidative injury. Overall, poly(eTEGA-co-LA) serves as a dual-functional material combining thermoresponsive phase transition with strong antioxidant capacity, offering a promising materials-based strategy for treating flap I/R injury and other oxidative stress-related conditions.
Committee Chair
Xiaowei Li
Committee Members
Matthew D. Wood, Justin M. Sacks
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Winter 12-17-2025
Language
English (en)
Author's ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3527-6571
Recommended Citation
Guo, Yuhan, "Antioxidative Copolymer for Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Flap Necrosis: Synthesis and Evaluation" (2025). McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations. 1298.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/eng_etds/1298