Educational series: turning monomers into crosslinked polymer networks

Multifunctional monomers enable the synthesis of polymer networks by adapting the polymerization methods used for conventional linear polymer synthesis. Both step and chain polymerization methods can be combined with multifunctional monomers to generate networks with essentially infinite molecular weight. Traditional networks are held together through covalent crosslinks that derive from the multifunctional monomers. Additional approaches to network like materials involve polymer phase separation, forming non-covalent crosslink-points. This contribution provides an overview of the approaches and chemistries available for polymer network synthesis, and serves as a resource for researchers exploring polymer networks or attempting alternative approaches to network development.ISSN:1759-9962ISSN:1759-995

Educational series: characterizing crosslinked polymer networks

Characterization of polymer networks presents unique challenges due to the insolubility of the materials, but this also enables characterization by new techniques that take advantage of the bulk network structure. An overview of characterization methods for polymer networks is presented, including functionality by IR, swelling and gel fraction calculations, mechanical characterization, thermal characterization, evaluation of molar masses between crosslinks and surface properties. This contribution serves as a reference for researchers aiming to evaluate network properties for the first time, or to expand the range of techniques used in network characterization.ISSN:1759-9962ISSN:1759-995

COVID-19 Vaccination and New Onset Glomerular Disease: Results from the IRocGN2 International Registry.

KEY POINTS: IgAN and MCD are the most common de novo glomerular diseases reported after COVID-19 vaccination, particularly after mRNA vaccination. Membranous nephropathy, pauci-immune GN, and collapsing GN have also been attributed to COVID-19 vaccination, some with dual histologies. Recovery of kidney function and proteinuria remission is more likely in IgAN and MCD by 4–6 months compared with the other glomerular diseases. BACKGROUND: Patients with de novo glomerular disease (GD) with various renal histologies have been reported after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Causality has not been established, and the long-term outcomes are not known. To better characterize the GDs and clinical courses/outcomes, we created the International Registry of COVID-19 vaccination and Glomerulonephritis to study in aggregate patients with de novo GN suspected after COVID-19 vaccine exposure. METHODS: A REDCap survey was used for anonymized data collection. Detailed information on vaccination type and timing and GD histology were recorded in the registry. We collected serial information on laboratory values (before and after vaccination and during follow-up), treatments, and kidney-related outcomes. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients with GD were entered into the registry over 11 months from 44 centers throughout the world. Median follow-up was 89 days after diagnosis. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and minimal change disease (MCD) were the most common kidney diseases reported. Recovery of kidney function and remission of proteinuria were more likely in IgAN and MCD at 4–6 months than with pauci-immune GN/vasculitis and membranous nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: The development of GD after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may be a very rare adverse event. Temporal association is present for IgAN and MCD, but causality is not firmly established. Kidney outcomes for IgAN and MCD are favorable. No changes in vaccination risk-benefit assessment are recommended based on these findings

COVID-19 Vaccination and New Onset Glomerular Disease : Results from the IRocGN2 International Registry

Background Patients with de novo glomerular disease (GD) with various renal histologies have been reported after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Causality has not been established, and the long-term outcomes are not known. To better characterize the GDs and clinical courses/outcomes, we created the International Registry of COVID-19 vaccination and Glomerulonephritis to study in aggregate patients with de novo GN suspected after COVID-19 vaccine exposure.Methods A REDCap survey was used for anonymized data collection. Detailed information on vaccination type and timing and GD histology were recorded in the registry. We collected serial information on laboratory values (before and after vaccination and during follow-up), treatments, and kidney-related outcomes.Results Ninety-eight patients with GD were entered into the registry over 11 months from 44 centers throughout the world. Median follow-up was 89 days after diagnosis. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and minimal change disease (MCD) were the most common kidney diseases reported. Recovery of kidney function and remission of proteinuria were more likely in IgAN and MCD at 4-6 months than with pauci-immune GN/vasculitis and membranous nephropathy.Conclusions The development of GD after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may be a very rare adverse event. Temporal association is present for IgAN and MCD, but causality is not firmly established. Kidney outcomes for IgAN and MCD are favorable. No changes in vaccination risk-benefit assessment are recommended based on these findings.Peer reviewe