Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Part II. Copolymers with positive and negative charges,...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Macroporous hydrogels offer unique properties for various applications.
• Controlling hydrogel architecture is crucial for optimizing performance.
• Copolymer and terpolymer systems provide versatile platforms for material design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel crosslinked macroporous hydrogels.
• To investigate the influence of composition on hydrogel porosity and morphology.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility of the developed macroporous hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogel synthesis via copolymerization and terpolymerization of HEMA, MOETACl, and MA.
• Macropore formation using fractionated sodium chloride particles as porogens.
• Characterization of pore structure (number, volume, diameter) using microscopy (confocal, SEM).
• Chemical composition analysis and biocompatibility assessment of homogeneous hydrogels.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared macroporous hydrogels with varying compositions.
• Detailed characterization of pore size, distribution, and overall morphology.
• Polyelectrolyte complex hydrogels showed distinct chemical compositions.
• Homogeneous hydrogels demonstrated good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a method for creating tunable macroporous hydrogels.
• The developed hydrogels possess controllable structural properties.
• These macroporous hydrogels are biocompatible, suggesting potential for tissue engineering and drug delivery.