Poly(ethylene glycol) Star Polymer Hydrogels

Abstract

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) star polymer hydrogels were prepared by γ-irradiation of aqueous solutions of star PEG polymers. The swelling behavior of these gels in deionized water at 37 °C indicated that the gels prepared from PEG star polymers with a small number of long arms swelled to a greater extent than those prepared from PEG star polymers with a large number of short arms. PEG star polymers and branched PEG polymers were modified to incorporate acrylate groups on the ends of the polymer arms. These acrylated star or branched polymers were copolymerized with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate in the presence of UV light. The ensuing materials swelled to a greater extent than hydrogels prepared without acrylated star or branched PEG polymers. Number-average molecular weights were calculated using several rubber elasticity-based theories.

Photopatternable PEDOT:PSS/PEG hybrid thin film with moisture stability and sensitivity

“…Specifically, the sensors with lower PEG contents behave more responsively to the moisture than those with higher PEG contents (0.0085/RH%, 0.0065/RH%, 0.0045/RH%, and 0.0027/RH%, respectively). This is highly consistent with the fact that a higher porosity level with larger pore sizes is present in a PEG matrix with lower PEG content, and therefore, more moisture can be absorbed into the porous matrix 48,49 . Due to the high permittivity nature of the water molecules, a more detectable change in the permittivity in such a matrix can be observed under the same humidity level.…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Tunable Poly(Ethylene Glycol): Gelatin Methacrylate Composite Hydrogels

“…Numerous methods have been developed to produce PEG hydrogels through covalent crosslinking of PEG prepolymer; free radical polymerization of PEG acrylates, Michael-type addition, enzymatic reaction, and radiation. [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] Although PEG displays many desirable features as a biomaterial, the inability for cells to degrade, remodel, and attach to PEG make it difficult to implement as a hydrogel for tissue engineering, where such characteristics are critical. The lack of bioactivity of PEG has spurred the development of functionalized PEG polymers, where peptide sequences are attached to PEG acrylate groups or polymerized to 4-arm PEG using Michael-type addition.…”

Cell phenotypic changes of mouse connective tissue fibroblasts (L-929) to poly(ethylene glycol)-based gels

“…1 Particularly, polymer gel networks generated from derivatives of PEG, namely hydrogels, have been examined and used for drug delivery and tissue engineering based on their ability to imbibe a large amount of water and their soft and rubbery consistency. [2][3][4][5] Besides these beneficial properties, PEG-based gels are known to be nontoxic, non-immunogenic and possess anti-fouling properties. 6 Due to the unique ability of PEG to block serum protein adsorption as well as the ability to prevent prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell adhesion, PEG can be further used as a surface coating material for the passivation of biomaterial surfaces.…”