Correlation of Bulk Degradation and Molecular Release from Enzymatically Degradable Polymeric Hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: In this work, we establish a quantitative correlation between molecular release and material degradation. We characterize a radical-initiated photopolymerized hydrogel and base-initiated Michael addition-polymerized hydrogel, which form gels through distinct crosslinking reactions. Both scaffolds use the same degradable peptide crosslinker, which enables them to be degraded through the same enzymatic degradation reaction. A fluorescently labeled poly(ethylene glycol) molecule is chemically conjugated into the scaffold and is released during enzymatic degradation. Real-time changes in scaffold rheological properties during degradation are measured using bulk rheology. Molecular release is measured by quantifying the change in fluorescence in the incubation liquid and the hydrogel scaffold.

SUBMITTER: Wu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8578447 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature