Synthesis and Characterization of PEG Dimethacrylates and Their Hydrogels

Abstract

Facile synthesis and detailed characterization of photopolymerizable and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates (PEGDM) and poly(ethylene glycol) urethane-dimethacrylates (PEGUDM) are described. Poly(ethylene glycol)s of various molecular masses (M(n) = 1000 to 8000 g/mol) were reacted with methacrylic anhydride or with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate to form PEGDMs and PEGUDMs, respectively. PEGDMs were also prepared by a microwave-assisted route to achieve fast reaction conversions under solvent free conditions. Combined analyses of (1)H NMR and MALDI-TOF MS confirmed the formation of prepolymers of high purity and narrow mass distribution (PD < 1.02). Aqueous solutions of the PEGDMs and PEGUDMs (10% and 20% by mass fraction) were photopolymerized to yield hydrogels. Bovine chondrocytes, seeded in the hydrogels, were used to assess the biocompatibility. Preliminary rheology and uniaxial compression measurements showed varied mechanical response, and biocompatibility studies showed that cells are completely viable in both types of hydrogels after two weeks.

Development of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels for Salivary Gland Tissue Engineering Applications

“…Initially, methacrylate-functionalized PEG macromers were used due to their ease of synthesis and successful use with myriad cell types. [32][33][34]37,38,40,71 To screen SMG cytocompatibility, nongelling polymerizations were used to alleviate potential issues with diffusional constraints 28,59 by using macromers with only one functionality (Fig. 1A).…”

“…3A[ii]) were synthesized according to previously established protocols. 28,59,60 Norbornene-functionalized PEG synthesis. Four-arm 20 kDa PEG was functionalized with norboronene (PEG-NORB, Fig.…”

A microfluidic-based cell encapsulation platform to achieve high long-term cell viability in photopolymerized PEGNB hydrogel microspheres

“…PEGDA pre-polymer solutions were mixed to a final concentration of 10 wt% PEGDA ( M n ≈3400 Da, JenKem Technology, USA), 0.1 wt% LAP, and 5mM RGDS. The average molecular weight of each PEG chain was approximately conserved between PEGNB and PEGDA, and these materials have been shown to have similar mechanical properties 52,56-58 as hydrogels with comparative compositions. To characterize hydrogel microsphere size, a fluorescent dye, 0.01 wt% thiolated Rhodamine B, was added to and copolymerized with the hydrogel-forming solution to directly label the network.…”

Extended interaction of β1 integrin subunit-deficient cells (GD25) with surfaces modified with fibronectin-derived peptides: Culture optimization, adhesion and cytokine panel studies

“…Gelatin exhibited a broad doublet peak at 7.250 ppm, a sharp peak at 8.411 ppm, and broad, asymmetrical peaks from 0.885 to 4.803 ppm [43]. Prominent PEG peaks were present in all modified-gelatin samples at approximately 3.64 ppm [44]. The various PEGylated-peptide-gelatins also displayed additional peaks as follows: RGD-modified gelatin showed an overlapped doublet of triplet peaks at approximately 1.36 ppm, a broad group of peaks at 1.40 ppm, single peaks at 2.79, 2.87 and 3.03 ppm, and two overlapping triplet peaks at approximately 3.38 ppm; PHSRN showed broad peaks composed of many overlapping small peaks at 1.7, 1.75, 1.92, 3.18, 4.19 and 4.2 ppm and two sharp peaks at 4.15 and 7.02 ppm; PEGylated-GGG-gelatin showed three singlets at 4.07, 4.12 and 4.17; and mPEG-gelatin showed sharp peaks at 3.2 and 3.7 ppm and a broad peak at 3.95 [13].…”