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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Synthesis of Thermogelling Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-chondroitin Sulfate Composites with Alginate Microparticles for Tissue Engineering
Published on: October 26, 2016
Cryogelation for preparation of novel biodegradable tissue-engineering scaffolds
Nimet Bölgen1, Fatima Plieva, Igor Yu Galaev
1Hacettepe University, Chemical Engineering Department and Bioengineering Division, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract:
2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate-L-lactate (HEMA-LLA) and HEMA-L-lactate-dextran (HEMA-LLA-D) were synthesized. 1H-NMR confirmed the formation of these oligomers and macromers. Cryogels with different pore structures were prepared using different amounts of HEMA, HEMA-LLA and HEMA-LLA-D by a cryogelation technique. SEM micrographs exhibited pore morphologies. Cryogels were highly porous with interconnected pore structures, opaque, spongy and highly elastic. It was possible to compress them to remove the water in the pores and to return to their original form just by immersing them in water in few minutes, which was quite reproducible. Their swelling abilities, compressive strengths and degradation in buffer solutions were found to be related with their structural properties which was controlled by changing the cryogelation recipe.

