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Polyglycerol‐Based Mucus‐Inspired Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Sharma Antara,
Thongrom Boonya,
Bhatia Sumati,
Lospichl Benjamin,
Addante Annalisa,
Graeber Simon Y.,
Lauster Daniel,
Mall Marcus A.,
Gradzielski Michael,
Haag Rainer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.202100303
Subject(s) - mucus , mucin , self healing hydrogels , polymer , macromolecule , polyethylene glycol , peg ratio , polymer chemistry , materials science , chemistry , polymer science , chemical engineering , biophysics , organic chemistry , biochemistry , biology , ecology , finance , engineering , economics
The mucus layer is a hydrogel network that covers mucosal surfaces of the human body. Mucus has important protective properties that are related to its unique rheological properties, which are based on mucins being the main glycoprotein constituents. Mucin macromolecules entangle with one another and form a physical network that is instrumental for many important defense functions. Mucus derived from various human or animal sources is poorly defined and thus not suitable for many application purposes. Herein, a synthetic route is fabricated to afford a library of compositionally defined mucus‐inspired hydrogels (MIHs). MIHs are synthesized by thiol oxidation to render disulfide bonds between the crosslinker ethoxylated trimethylolpropane tri(3‐mercaptopropionate) (THIOCURE ETTMP 1300) and the linear precursors, dithiolated linear polyglycerol (LPG(SH) 2 ) or polyethylene glycol (PEG(SH) 2 ) of different molecular weights. The mixing ratio of linear polymers versus crosslinker and the length of the linear polymer are varied, thus delivering a library of compositionally defined mucin‐inspired constructs. Their viscoelastic properties are determined by frequency sweeps at 25 and 37 °C and compared to the corresponding behavior of native human mucus. Here, MIHs composed of a 10:1 ratio of LPG(SH) 2 and ETTMP 1300 are proved to be the best comparable to human airway mucus rheology.