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Stimuli-Responsive Phosphate Hydrogel: A Study on Swelling Behavior, Mechanical Properties, and Application in
Yokly Leng1, Collin N Britten2, Fatema Tarannum2
1School of Chemical, Materials, and Biological Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States.
ACS Omega
|September 16, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed phosphorus-based poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate) (PMOEP) hydrogels that respond to stimuli. These biocompatible hydrogels show tunable swelling and enhanced cellular expansion for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Phosphorus-based hydrogels offer tunable properties due to ionizable phosphorus groups and biocompatibility.
- Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are valuable for various applications, including biomedical uses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate) (PMOEP) hydrogels.
- To investigate the stimuli-responsive swelling behavior of PMOEP hydrogels.
- To evaluate the potential of PMOEP hydrogels in expansion microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Aqueous activators regenerated by electron transfer atomic transfer radical polymerization.
- Swelling studies in various salt solutions, pH conditions, and temperatures.
- Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy.
- Cytotoxicity testing with rat bone marrow stem cells.
- Evaluation in expansion microscopy with 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells.
Main Results:
- Swelling degree in salt solutions followed CaCl2 < MgCl2 < KCl < NaCl, decreasing with concentration.
- Hydrogels exhibited increased swelling around neutral pH, plateauing at basic pH.
- Polymerization conditions (pH, temperature, monomer concentration) influenced swelling.
- SEM and EDX confirmed hydrogel microstructure and composition.
- PMOEP hydrogels demonstrated biocompatibility and a twofold enhancement in cellular expansion capacity.
Conclusions:
- PMOEP hydrogels exhibit predictable, stimuli-responsive swelling behavior.
- These hydrogels are biocompatible and suitable for biomedical applications.
- PMOEP hydrogels show significant potential for use in expansion microscopy.
