Macroporous PEG‐DA Hydrogels and Their Potential Utility as Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Templated

© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) hydrogels have been widely utilized to investigate cell–material interactions and as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Traditionally, PEG-DA hydrogels are prepared via the UV-cure of aqueous precursor solutions, but afford a limited range of pore size and interconnectivity that is essential for cellular proliferation and neotissue formation. To overcome these limitations, macroporous PEG-DA hydrogels are prepared in this study using a combination of solvent-induced phase separation (SIPS) and a fused salt template. PEG-DA concentration in the organized fabrication solvent (20, 30, and 40 wt%) and average salt particle size (≈180, ≈270, and ≈460 μm) are varied and the resulting hydrated hydrogel morphology, swelling, mechanical properties, and degradation are characterized. These templated SIPS PEG-DA hydrogels broaden PEG-DA hydrogel properties and, in some cases, afford a series of compositions whose properties are decoupled. (Figure presented.).

Templated, Macroporous PEG‐DA Hydrogels and Their Potential Utility as Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Academic Article