A functionalizable reverse thermal gel based on a polyurethane/PEG block copolymer.

ABSTRACT: Injectable reverse thermal gels have great potentials as biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery. However, most existing gels lack functional groups that can be modified with biomolecules that can guide cell/material interactions. We created an amine-functionalized ABA block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(serinol hexamethylene urethane), or ESHU. This reverse thermal gel consists of a hydrophobic block (B): poly(serinol hexamethylene urethane) and a hydrophilic block (A): poly(ethylene glycol). The polymer was characterized by GPC, FTIR and (1)H FTNMR. Rheological study demonstrated that ESHU solution in phosphate-buffered saline initiated phase transition at 32 °C and reached maximum elastic modulus at 37 °C. The in vitro degradation tests performed in PBS and cholest

SUBMITTER: Park D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2991555 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature