Characterization of pore structure in biologically functional poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PHEMA-PEGDA)

PLoS One. 2014 May 9;9(5):e96709. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096709. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

A copolymer composed of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) (PHEMA-PEGDA) is structurally versatile. Its structure can be adjusted using the following porogens: water, sucrose, and benzyl alcohol. Using phase separation technique, a variety of surface architectures and pore morphologies were developed by adjusting porogen volume and type. The water and sucrose porogens were effective in creating porous and cytocompatible PHEMA-PEGDA scaffolds. When coated with collagen, the PHEMA-PEGDA scaffolds accommodated cell migration. The PHEMA-PEGDA scaffolds are easy to produce, non-toxic, and mechanically stable enough to resist fracture during routine handling. The PHEMA-PEGDA structures presented in this study may expedite the current research effort to engineer tissue scaffolds that provide both structural stability and biological activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Collagen

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the grant from the Office of Navy Research (N00014-06-1-0100). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.