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Cytocompatible Poly(ethylene glycol)‐ co ‐polycarbonate Hydrogels Cross‐Linked by Copper‐Free, Strain‐Promoted Click Chemistry
Author(s) -
Xu Jianwen,
Filion Tera M.,
Prifti Fioleda,
Song Jie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201100411
Subject(s) - ethylene glycol , self healing hydrogels , polycarbonate , click chemistry , polymer chemistry , chemistry , peg ratio , tissue engineering , macromonomer , chemical engineering , polymer , biocompatibility , materials science , polymerization , organic chemistry , biomedical engineering , medicine , finance , economics , engineering
Strategies to encapsulate cells in cytocompatible three‐dimensional hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and degradability without harmful gelling conditions are highly desired for regenerative medicine applications. Here we reported a method for preparing poly(ethylene glycol)‐ co ‐polycarbonate hydrogels through copper‐free, strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) click chemistry. Hydrogels with varying mechanical properties were formed by “clicking” azido‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)‐ co ‐polycarbonate macromers with dibenzocyclooctyne‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) under physiological conditions within minutes. Bone marrow stromal cells encapsulated in these gels exhibited higher cellular viability than those encapsulated in photo‐cross‐linked poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate. The precise control over the macromer compositions, cytocompatible SPAAC cross‐linking, and the degradability of the polycarbonate segments make these hydrogels promising candidates for scaffold and stem cell assisted tissue repair and regeneration.