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Cryogels from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate): macroporous, interconnected materials with potential as cell
Irina N Savina1, Veerle Cnudde2, Stijn D'Hollander3
1Department of Biotechnology, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, Lund, SE 22 100, Sweden and Protista Biotechnology AB, Ideon, Lund, SE 223 70, Sweden.
Soft Matter
|September 9, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed elastic macroporous hydrogels (MHs) with interconnected pores up to 100 µm. These tunable hydrogels, synthesized using hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), show promise for biomedical applications like cell culturing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Macroporous hydrogels (MHs) offer unique structural properties beneficial for various applications.
- Controlling pore size, porosity, and mechanical properties is crucial for tailoring hydrogel performance.
- Surface modification can introduce advanced functionalities to hydrogel materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize elastic macroporous hydrogels (MHs) with high porosity and interconnected pore structures.
- To investigate the influence of monomer composition and concentration on the mechanical properties of MHs.
- To functionalize MHs with a stimuli-responsive polymer for potential advanced applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of MHs via cross-linking polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) or co-polymerization with dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) in a semi-frozen state.
- Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for detailed structural analysis, including pore size and total porosity.
- Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) for grafting poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) onto the MH surface.
Main Results:
- Successfully prepared elastic MHs with large, interconnected pores (up to 100 µm) and high porosity (94-97%).
- Hydrogel stiffness was found to increase with higher total monomer concentration and increased ratio of DMAA.
- Demonstrated successful high-density grafting of stimuli-responsive PNIPAM onto the MH surface via ATRP, with optimization of reaction conditions.
Conclusions:
- The developed HEMA-based MHs possess tunable mechanical properties, elasticity, and a desirable macroporous structure.
- The ability to dry and rapidly re-swell these hydrogels, combined with surface functionalization, enhances their utility.
- These macroporous hydrogels are promising candidates for biomedical applications, particularly in cell culturing and tissue engineering.
