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Updated: May 24, 2026

Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Poly(ethylene glycol) and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation
Published on: October 29, 2013
Photo-crosslinked biodegradable hydrogels prepared from fumaric acid monoethyl ester-functionalized oligomers for
Janine Jansen1, George Mihov, Jan Feijen
1Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Photo-crosslinkable, fumaric acid monoethyl ester-functionalized triblock oligomers are synthesized and copolymerized with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone to form biodegradable photo-crosslinked hydrogels. Poly(ethylene glycol) is used as the middle hydrophilic segment and the hydrophobic segments are based on D,L-lactide, trimethylene carbonate or a mixture of these monomers. Two model proteins, lysozyme and albumin, are incorporated in the hydrogels and their release is studied. The composition of the hydrophobic segments could be used to tune degradation behavior and release rates. Careful optimization of photo-polymerization conditions is needed to limit conjugation of proteins to the hydrogels and protein denaturation.

