Controlled degradation of low-fouling poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate) hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Degradable low-fouling hydrogels are ideal vehicles for drug and cell delivery. For each application, hydrogel degradation rate must be re-optimized for maximum therapeutic benefit. We developed a method to rapidly and predictably tune degradation rates of low-fouling poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate) (P(EG) _x MA) hydrogels by modifying two interdependent variables: (1) base-catalysed crosslink degradation kinetics, dependent on crosslinker electronics (electron withdrawing groups (EWGs)); and, (2) polymer hydration, dependent on the molecular weight (M _W) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) pendant groups. By controlling PEG M _W and EWG strength, P(EG) _x MA hydrogels were tuned to degrade over 6 to 52 d

SUBMITTER: Shoaib MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9064882 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature