Stop-flow lithography for the production of shape-evolving degradable microgel particles.
Microgel particles capable of bulk degradation have been synthesized from a solution of diacrylated triblock copolymer composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(lactic acid) in a microfluidic device using stop-flow lithography (SFL). It has been previously demonstrated that SFL can be used to fabricate particles with precise control over particle size and shape. Here, we have fabricated hydrogel particles of varying size and shape and examined their mass-loss and swelling behavior histologically and mechanically. We report that these features, as well as degradation behavior of the hydrogel particles may be tailored with SFL. By reducing the applied UV dose during fabrication, hydrogel particles can be made to exhibit a distinct deviation from the classical erosion profiles of bulk-degrading hydrogels. At higher UV doses, a saturation in cross-linking density occurs and bulk-degrading behavior is observed. Finally, we synthesized multifunctional composite particles, providing unique features not found in homogeneous hydrogels.
Hwang
Dae Kun
DK
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Oakey
John
J
Toner
Mehmet
M
Arthur
Jeffrey A
JA
Anseth
Kristi S
KS
Lee
Sunyoung
S
Zeiger
Adam
A
Van Vliet
Krystyn J
KJ
Doyle
Patrick S
PS
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D044085:Microfluidics; D010316:Particle Size; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D011091:Polyesters; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C033616:poly(lactide)