Arginine-glycine-aspartic acid functional branched semi-interpenetrating hydrogels.
For the first time a series of functional hydrogels based on semi-interpenetrating networks with both branched and crosslinked polymer components have been prepared and we show the successful use of these materials as substrates for cell culture. The materials consist of highly branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)s with peptide functionalised end groups in a continuous phase of crosslinked poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). Functionalisation of the end groups of the branched polymer component with the GRGDS peptide produces a hydrogel that supports cell adhesion and proliferation. The materials provide a new synthetic functional biomaterial that has many of the features of extracellular matrix, and as such can be used to support tissue regeneration and cell culture. This class of high water content hydrogel material has important advantages over other functional hydrogels in its synthesis and does not require post-processing modifications nor are functional-monomers, which change the polymerisation process, required. Thus, the systems are amenable to large scale and bespoke manufacturing using conventional moulding or additive manufacturing techniques. Processing using additive manufacturing is exemplified by producing tubes using microstereolithography.
The Polymer and Biomaterials Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK. s.rimmer@bradford.ac.uk.
Richard A
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3586-061X
RA
Plenderleith
Department of Materials and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, North Campus, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK.
Christopher J
CJ
Pateman
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Cornelia
C
Rodenburg
Department of Materials and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, North Campus, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK.
John W
JW
Haycock
Department of Materials and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, North Campus, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK.
Frederik
F
Claeyssens
Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 1WN, UK.
Chris
C
Sammon
The Polymer and Biomaterials Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, UK. s.rimmer@bradford.ac.uk.
Stephen
S
Rimmer
D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D054443:Cell Migration Assays; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*
D000178:Acrylamides; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D009842:Oligopeptides; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D001120:Arginine; C049554:glycyl-arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine; C067295:N-isopropylacrylamide; D005998:Glycine