Thermogelation of PEG-Based Macromolecules of Controlled Architecture

Thermo‐Switchable Materials Prepared Using the OEGMA‐Platform

“…Below the LCST of the thermoresponsive segments, these (star)-block copolymers were double-hydrophilic (i.e., fully soluble in aqueous medium), whereas above LCST, P(MEO 2 MA-co -OEGMA 475 ) chains precipitated, thus resulting in the formation of defi ned hydrogel networks. [ 55 ] Interestingly, this thermo-induced sol-gel transition was adjusted within a near-physiological range of temperature by simply varying the composition of the thermoresponsive segments. Moreover, these copolymers formed thermoreversible gels in various buffer solutions and in cell culture media.…”

“…For instance, we studied lately a series of OEGMA-based hydrogelators. [ 55,56 ] poly( ε -caprolactone) particles) with OEGMA-based copolymers. [ 73,74 ] Above the LCST of these thermoresponsive shells, these microparticles aggregated into compact biocompatible scaffolds, which allowed the 3D encapsulation of living cells (Figure 2 ).…”

Synthesis and aggregation properties in water solution of comblike methacrylic polymers with oligo(propylene glycol)‐block‐oligo(ethylene glycol) as side chains

“…9,10 In the last years, another amphiphilic polymeric family based on a nonlinear analog of PEG, such as poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] [P(OEGMA)], has aroused a great deal of attention. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] These polymers present the good properties of PEG and, in addition, they can be obtained by controlled/living radical polymerization techniques, such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Moreover, it is known that they are able to form micelles due to its amphiphilic nature and, depending on the length of its side chain and final substitution, they exhibit thermosensitive behavior in aqueous solution.…”

Smart hydrogels based on responsive star-block copolymers

“…68 Second, using multi-arm (AB) x type copolymers lowers the critical gelation concentration by eliminating the micelle formation step. [69][70][71] This will be discussed below.…”

“…reported 4-arm stars with PEO inner blocks and P(DEGMA-co-OEGMA) outer blocks, which formed fully reversible free-standing hydrogels at 15 wt% upon heating. 69 All three groups describe that the starshaped gelators are more efficient than their linear counterparts. Pérez et.al.…”