Preparation of novel biodegradable pHEMA hydrogel for a tissue engineering scaffold by microwave-assisted polymerization.
OBJECTIVE
To prepare a novel biodegradable poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrilate) (pHEMA) hydrogel as tissue engineering scaffold.


METHODS
The pHEMA hydrogel was synthesized by microwave-assisted polymerization using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the raw material, potassium persulfate as the initiator, and PCLX as the cross-linking additive. The hydrogels was characterized with FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared hydrogel were evaluated, and its degradation performance was tested. The cytotoxicity of the optimum composite hydrogel was measured by an MTT assay to confirm the feasibility of its use in tissue engineering.


RESULTS
The optimum conditions under which the hydrogel was prepared by microwave-assisted polymerization are as follows: 1.5 g cross-linking additive, 0.3 g initiator, reaction temperature of 80 °C, and microwave power of 800 W. Degradation studies showed good degradation profiles with 75% in 17 days. Additionally, the hydrogels did not elicit any cytotoxic response in in vitro cytotoxic assays.


CONCLUSIONS
A biodegradable pHEMA hydrogel was successfully prepared by microwave-assisted polymerization, as confirmed from FTIR and NMR results. The hydrogel shows promising applications in tissue engineering, and its healing ability and biocompatibility will be evaluated in detail in the future.
Department of Orthodontics, Hubei-MOST KLOS & KLOBM, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Li
L
Zhang
Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China. Electronic address: airforcezhgj@163.com.
Gen-Jian
GJ
Zheng
College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 571100, China.
Ya-Tong
YT
Guo
Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570102, China.
Lan
L
Zhou
College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 571100, China.
Jie
J
Du
Department of Orthodontics, Hubei-MOST KLOS & KLOBM, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China. Electronic address: drhehong@hotmail.com.
Hong
H
He
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008872:Microwaves; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D058105:Polymerization; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
Biodegradable hydrogel; Microwave-assisted polymerization; Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrilate)