Poly(ethylene Glycol) Methyl Ether Methacrylate-Based Injectable Hydrogels: Swelling, Rheological, and In Vitro...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Injectable hydrogels are crucial for minimally invasive therapies.
• Tailoring hydrogel properties is key for effective tissue regeneration.
• Polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEM) and DMAEM offer tunable properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize PEGMEM-based homopolymeric and copolymeric hydrogels.
• To investigate the influence of hydrogel composition on swelling, rheology, and biocompatibility.
• To evaluate the potential of these hydrogels for cartilage regeneration applications.

Main Methods:

• Free radical polymerization was used to form hydrogel networks.
• ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) confirmed network formation.
• Swelling, rheological analysis, and MTT assays were performed to assess hydrogel properties and biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• Hydrogel swelling correlated with monomer/catalyst amounts and monomer molecular weight.
• Synthesized hydrogels exhibited viscoelastic and shear-thinning behavior.
• Homopolymeric hydrogels showed no toxicity; copolymeric hydrogels were toxic at high DMAEM concentrations. PEGDMA induced inflammation in ATDC5 cells.

Conclusions:

• Tunable PEGMEM-based hydrogels were successfully synthesized.
• Hydrogel properties can be modulated by adjusting monomer, crosslinker, and catalyst concentrations.
• These hydrogels are promising candidates for cartilage regeneration, with careful control of composition needed to ensure biocompatibility.