Supermacroporous chemically cross-linked poly(aspartic acid) hydrogels.
Chemically cross-linked poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) gels were prepared by a solid-liquid phase separation technique, cryogelation, to achieve a supermacroporous interconnected pore structure. The precursor polymer of PASP, polysuccinimide (PSI) was cross-linked below the freezing point of the solvent and the forming crystals acted as templates for the pores. Dimethyl sulfoxide was chosen as solvent instead of the more commonly used water. Thus larger temperatures could be utilized for the preparation and the drawback of increase in specific volume of water upon freezing could be eliminated. The morphology of the hydrogels was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and interconnectivity of the pores was proven by the small flow resistance of the gels. Compression tests also confirmed the interconnected porous structure and the complete re-swelling and shape recovery of the supermacroporous PASP hydrogels. The prepared hydrogels are of interest for several biomedical applications as scaffolding materials because of their cytocompatibility, controllable morphology and pH-responsive character.
Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: bgyarmati@mail.bme.hu.
Benjámin
B
Gyarmati
Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: meszar.ezsuzsa@gmail.com.
E Zsuzsanna
EZ
Mészár
Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: lorand.kiss.work@gmail.com.
Lóránd
L
Kiss
Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: deli@brc.hu.
Mária A
MA
Deli
Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: klaszlo@mail.bme.hu.
Krisztina
K
László
Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: aszilagyi@mail.bme.hu.
András
A
Szilágyi
D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides; C017645:polyaspartate; C025252:poly-DL-succinimide; D001224:Aspartic Acid
Hydrogel; Macroporous morphology; Poly(aspartic acid); Responsive character