title: Effect of crosslinking density on swelling and mechanical properties of PEGDA400/PCLTMA900 hydrogels.
abstract: A biodegradable polymer network hydrogel was fabricated and characterized for neural tissue engineering purposes. The proposed hydrogel contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. The hydrophobic component is a three-arm poly(e-caprolactone) maleic acid with molecular weight of 900 (PCLTMA), and the hydrophilic component is poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate macromer (PEGDA) with molecular weight of 400. A monolithic hard gel was generated by chemical photo-crosslinking. Three different networks, with varied ratios of PEGDA to PCLTMA including 25/75, 50/50 and 75/25, were characterized by compression testing, and the swelling properties were studied in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 7.4). The results of this study show that a wide-range of swelling data was obtained when the composition of PEGDA to PCLTMA was changed. The compressive modulus was measured for each composition, and the 75/25 gel was stiffer than the other compositions. These basic material properties will provide preliminary data for hydrogel development to be conducted in our laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 1102 South Dr. Rm 146, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gonnerman
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Tien-Min G
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003720:Densitometry; D004548:Elasticity; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D019563:Mechanics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D011091:Polyesters; C437167:poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012965:Sodium Chloride