Epoxy-amine synthesised hydrogel scaffolds for soft-tissue engineering.
Highly porous and biodegradable hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and cystamine (Cys) were fabricated using epoxy-amine chemistry and investigated as scaffolds for soft-tissue engineering. Whereas the application of fused-salt templates provided a comprehensive interconnecting pore morphology, the incorporation of a specially designed poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) cross-linker provided enhanced mechanical function without adversely effecting the scaffolds positive biological interactions. The addition of only 1.2 wt% of the PCL cross-linker was sufficient to provide improvements in the ultimate stress of 30-40%. In vitro studies not only confirmed the non-cytotoxic nature of the scaffolds, but also their degradation products, which were isolated and characterised by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI ToF MS). In vivo trials were conducted over a period of 8 weeks through implantation of the scaffolds into the dorsal region of rats. At both 2 and 8 week time points the explants revealed complete infiltration by the surrounding tissue and the development of a vascular network to support the newly generated tissue, without an excessive foreign-body response.
Hamid
Zuratul A A
ZA
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Blencowe
Anton
A
Ozcelik
Berkay
B
Palmer
Jason A
JA
Stevens
Geoffrey W
GW
Abberton
Keren M
KM
Morrison
Wayne A
WA
Penington
Anthony J
AJ
Qiao
Greg G
GG
D016475:3T3 Cells; D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000588:Amines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D003538:Cystamine / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000588:Amines; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D003538:Cystamine