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Bio‐Origami Hydrogel Scaffolds Composed of Photocrosslinked PEG Bilayers
Author(s) -
Jamal Mustapha,
Kadam Sachin S.,
Xiao Rui,
Jivan Faraz,
Onn TziaMing,
Fernandes Rohan,
Nguyen Thao D.,
Gracias David H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201200458
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , ethylene glycol , peg ratio , materials science , tissue engineering , biophysics , micrometer , photolithography , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , biomedical engineering , polymer chemistry , medicine , physics , optics , finance , engineering , economics , biology
We describe the self‐folding of photopatterned poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based hydrogel bilayers into curved and anatomically relevant micrometer‐scale geometries. The PEG bilayers consist of two different molecular weights (MWs) and are photocrosslinked en masse using conventional photolithography. Self‐folding is driven by differential swelling of the two PEG bilayers in aqueous solutions. We characterize the self‐folding of PEG bilayers of varying composition and develop a finite element model which predicts radii of curvature that are in good agreement with empirical results. Since we envision the utility of bio‐origami in tissue engineering, we photoencapsulate insulin secreting β‐TC‐6 cells within PEG bilayers and subsequently self‐fold them into cylindrical hydrogels of different radii. Calcein AM staining and ELISA measurements are used to monitor cell proliferation and insulin production respectively, and the results indicate cell viability and robust insulin production for over eight weeks in culture.