Precise control of synthetic hydrogel network structure via linear, independent synthesis-swelling relationships
Open Access
- 12 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science Advances
- Vol. 7 (7), eabe3245
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe3245
Abstract
Hydrogel physical properties are tuned by altering synthesis conditions such as initial polymer concentration and polymer–cross-linker stoichiometric ratios. Traditionally, differences in hydrogel synthesis schemes, such as end-linked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels and cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels, limit structural comparison between hydrogels. In this study, we use generalized synthesis variables for hydrogels that emphasize how changes in formulation affect the resulting network structure. We identify two independent linear correlations between these synthesis variables and swelling behavior. Analysis through recently updated swollen polymer network models suggests that synthesis-swelling correlations can be used to make a priori predictions of the stiffness and solute diffusivity characteristics of synthetic hydrogels. The same experiments and analyses performed on methacrylamide-modified gelatin hydrogels demonstrate that complex biopolymer structures disrupt the linear synthesis-swelling correlations. These studies provide insight into the control of hydrogel physical properties through structural design and can be used to implement and optimize biomedically relevant hydrogels.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Science Foundation (DGE-1610403)
- National Cancer Institute (R01 CA197488)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01 DK099528)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (F31 DK117514)
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01 EB022025)
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R21 EB018481)
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (T32 EB019944)
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