Modulation of functional pendant chains within poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels for refined control of protein release.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogels are highly attractive delivery vehicles for therapeutic proteins. Their innate biocompatibility, hydrophilicity and aqueous permeability allow stable encapsulation and release of proteins. The release rates also can be controlled simply by altering the crosslinking density of the polymeric network. However, the crosslinking density also influences the mechanical properties of hydrogels, generally opposite to the permeability. In addition, the release of larger proteins may be hindered below critically diminished porosity determined by the crosslinking density. Herein, the physical properties of the hydrogels are tuned by presenting functional pendant chains, independent of crosslinking density. Heterobifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA) with various end fun

SUBMITTER: Kim M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5847582 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature