title: Tough biodegradable mixed-macromer networks and hydrogels by photo-crosslinking in solution.
abstract: The preparation of polymeric networks that are both tough and biodegradable remains a challenge. Here we show a very straightforward method to produce tough biodegradable networks from low molecular weight macromers for applications such as tissue engineering. Photo-crosslinking combinatorial mixtures of methacrylate-functionalized poly(1,3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) oligomers in propylene carbonate (PC) allowed the preparation of network films with excellent tensile characteristics and resistance to tearing. This method enabled the production of both very tough mixed-macromer elastomers as well as mixed-macromer hydrogels. A mixed-macromer hydrogel prepared from 33wt.% PTMC, 33wt.% PCL and 33wt.% PEG had a very high tearing energy of 0.81kJ/m(2), which is comparable to tearing energies determined for articular cartilage.
authors.affiliation: MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine and Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zant
authors.affiliation: MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine and Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, W.J. Kolff Institute, Department of Biomedical Engineering, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: d.w.grijpma@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Dirk W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Grijpma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D011407:Propane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004146:Dioxanes; D020100:Hydrogels; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; C059299:polytrimethylene carbonate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C033616:poly(lactide); C045990:propylene carbonate; D011407:Propane
keywords: Crosslinking in solution; Hydrogels; Mixed-macromer networks; Photo-crosslinking; Single-macromer networks