Synthesis and characterization of photo-cross-linked hydrogels based on biodegradable polyphosphoesters and poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers.
Novel biodegradable hydrogels by photo-cross-linking macromers based on polyphosphoesters and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are reported. Photo-cross-linkable macromers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of the cyclic phosphoester monomer 2-(2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholoyloxy) ethyl methacrylate (OPEMA) using PEG as the initiator and stannous octoate as the catalyst. The macromers were characterized by 1H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography measurements. The content of polyphosphoester in the macromer was controlled by varying the feed ratio of OPEMA to PEG. Hydrogels were fabricated by exposing aqueous solutions of macromers with 0.05% (w/w) photoinitiator to UV light irradiation, and their swelling kinetics as well as degradation behaviors were evaluated. The results demonstrated that cross-linking density and pH values strongly affected the degradation rates. The macromers was compatible to osteoblast cells, not exhibiting significant cytotoxicity up to 0.5 mg/mL. "Live/dead" cell staining assay also demonstrated that a large majority of the osteoblast cells remained viable after encapsulation into the hydrogel constructs, showing their potential as tissue engineering scaffolds.
Du
Jin-Zhi
JZ
Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China.
Sun
Tian-Meng
TM
Weng
Song-Qing
SQ
Chen
Xue-Si
XS
Wang
Jun
J
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004952:Esters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D010777:Photochemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D004952:Esters; D020100:Hydrogels; D010758:Phosphorus; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols