title: Synthesis and properties of caprolactone and ethylene glycol copolymers for neural regeneration.
abstract: Copolymer networks from poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) and caprolactone 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl ester were synthesized and the resulting structure of the copolymer network was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, equilibrium water gain and dynamic mechanical analysis, results which were employed to conclude about the network structure of the resulting copolymers. The new material is a random copolymer with a good miscibility and increasing hydrophilicity as the PEGMA content increases in the composition. Physical data suggest an excess free volume and synergistic interactions between the lateral chains of both comonomers. Olfactory ensheathing cells were cultured on the different networks, and cell viability and proliferation were assessed by MTS assay. The copolymers with a 30 wt% of PEGMA showed the best results compared with the other compositions in this respect, indicating the relevance for biological performance of a balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionalities in the polymer chain.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain. joresciv@ter.upv.es
authors.forename: Jorge Luis Escobar
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ivirico
authors.forename: Dunia M García
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: María C Araque
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Monrós
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ramos
authors.forename: Manuel Monleón
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pradas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002208:Caproates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007783:Lactones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; C121056:caprolactone; D019855:Ethylene Glycol