Injectable Polymer for in vivo Oxygen Sensing

This thesis documents the synthesis and characterization of an elastomeric polymer that is oxygen sensitive and can be interrogated using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance (MR) technology to report the oxygen tension in vivo at the site of implant. The polymer was tested for its sensitivity in response to oxygen, and the specificity of response to oxygen was verified. Oxygen diffusivity for this class of polymers was measured and correlated with the response sensitivity to oxygen to provide a possible explanation for the difference in response sensitivities within this class of polymers. Animal experiments were carried out in rats to test the performance of these sensors in vivo where device response to varying levels of inspired oxygen was monitored. Thesis Supervisor: Michael J. Cima Title: David H. Koch Professor of Engineering