Injectable polyethylene glycol-laponite composite hydrogels as articular cartilage scaffolds with superior mechanical and rheological properties

Abstract

TitleInjectable polyethylene glycol-laponite composite hydrogels as articular cartilage scaffolds with superior mechanical and rheological properties ABSTRACTIn this study, injectable PEG-based hydrogels containing Laponite particles with mechanical and structural properties close to the natural articular cartilage are introduced. The nanocomposites are fabricated by imide ring opening reactions utilizing synthesized copolymers containing PEG blocks and nanoclay through a two-step thermal poly-(amic acid) process. Butane diamine is used as nucleophilic reagent and hydrogels with interconnected pores with sizes in the range of 100-250 µm are prepared. Improved viscoelastic properties compared with the conventional PEG hydrogels are shown. Evaluation of cell viability utilizing human mesenchymal stem cells determines cytocompatibility of the nanocomposite hydrogels. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

Injectable hydrogels and nanocomposite hydrogels for cartilage regeneration

“…These interactions are a kind of additional physical crosslinking, which improves viscoelasticity of covalently crosslinked hydrogel. Slightly different system—PEG/Laponite® hydrogel was studied by Nojoomi et al In this work PEG‐based copolymer with multifunctional imide groups was synthesized through a poly‐(amic acid) thermal process. During the synthesis, 2.5 wt % of LP nanoparticles was added.…”

Preparation of a novel injectable in situ-gelling nanoparticle with applications in controlled protein release and cancer cell entrapment

“…The viscosity of the nanoparticle dispersions as a function of temperature was measured using an HR-2 Discovery Hybrid Rheometer (TA Instruments). 18,37 Two at parallel plates (25 cm in diameter) were used, and the distance between two plates was adjusted to 0.6 mm. During the experiments, a constant stress of 2 Pa and a frequency of 0.1 Hz was applied.…”

Nanocomposite hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering: a review

“…Cell viability tests by hMSC showed biocompatibility of the PEG hydrogels. The addition of laponite particles slightly decreased the cell viability, but the nanocomposite hydrogels shown reasonable biocompatibility (>90%) [41].…”

“…For example, sol-gel transition of them does not need any of toxic chemical reagents (such as crosslinkers, organic solvents, catalysts) [40]. Despite their advantages, there is a risk of leakage of the sol phase to unwanted sites before the beginning of the sol-gel phase transition [41].…”