Robust and Degradable Hydrogels from Poly(ethylene glycol) and Semi-Interpenetrating Collagen

Abstract

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and interpenetrating collagen can be used to synthesize hydrogels that are elastomeric-like, can withstand reversible loadings, degrade, and are bioactive. Here we present the synthesis of a hydrogel system made of PEG modified with lactide and acrylate end groups and then photo cross-linked in the presence of type I collagen. The hydrogel precursor solutions are low viscous and the cross-linked hydrogels form elastomeric-like polymer networks. Mechanical properties of the hydrogels were found to depend predominantly on PEG concentration and less on collagen. This is possibly due to a balance of molecular interactions that reinforce and weaken the network structure. Hydrogel degradation times were strongly dependent on temperature. The experimental results from this project show how to generate robust, and degradable hydrogels containing bioactive collagen. The data show promise and show the versatility of making biotechnologically relevant soft materials from a few components.

An Injectable Self‐Assembling Collagen–Gold Hybrid Hydrogel for Combinatorial Antitumor Photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy

“…[1][2][3][4] A variety of naturally occurring proteins, such as elastin, collagen, gelatin, and silk fi broin, have been used to synthesize self-assembling hydrogels because of their natural abundant resources. [ 1,[5][6][7][8][9] Collagen is one of most attractive proteins for biomedical applications as it is among the most abundant proteins in mammalian tissues and is the main component of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). [ 10 ] Collagen proteins such as type I collagen can undergo self-assembly to form fi brous hydrogels by noncovalent interactions including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic force, and hydrophobic interaction, etc.…”

Effective parameters in surface cross-linking of acrylic-based water absorbent polymer particles using bisphenol A diethylene glycidyl ether and cycloaliphatic diepoxide

“…Various strategies such as preparation of cyclic structure formation [5], interpenetrating polymer networks [6][7][8], composite hydrogels [9][10][11], nanocomposite superabsorbent polymers [8,11] and surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymers [12][13][14] have been utilized to enhance this characteristic. Except surface cross-linking of conventional superabsorbent which is mainly cited in patents, the other techniques have been probed quite thoroughly.…”

Injectable Hydrogel of Vitamin B9 for the Controlled Release of Both Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Anticancer Drugs

“…In drug delivery, low toxicity and the absence of side effects are required, so a critical feature of these hydrogels is their good biocompatibility . Some naturally occurring molecules, such as collagen, elastin, silk fibroin, and gelatin, has great potential in this field . These molecules produce a 3D fibrillar network in their hydrogel.…”

“…[2] Some naturally occurring molecules, such as collagen, elastin, silk fibroin, andg elatin, has great potential in this field. [3] These molecules produce a3 Df ibrillar network in their hydrogel. However,t hese hydrogels are not thixotropic, because the physicalf orce of network formation by fibrils are not strong enough to surmount the external mechanical stimulus.…”