Photopolymerization
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Research in the area of macromolecular research reported from University of Washington
2009 MAY 26 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from the United States, "Thermoresponsive and photocrosslinkable polymers can be used as injectable scaffolds in tissue engineering to yield gels in situ with enhanced mechanical properties and stability. They allow easy handling and hold their shapes prior to photopolymerization for clinical practice." "Here we report a novel copolymer with both thermoresponsive and photocrosslinkable properties via a facile one-step deactivation enhanced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methylacrylate (PEGMEMA, M-0 = 475) and poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA, M-n = 375) as monofunctional vinyl monomers and up to 30% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as multifunctional vinyl monomer. The resultant PEGMEMA-PPGMA-EGDMA copolymers have been characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and H-1 NMR analysis, which demonstrate their multivinyl functionality and hyperbranched structures. These water-soluble copolymers show lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior at 32 degrees C, which is comparable to poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). The copolymers can also be cross-linked by photopolymerization through their multivinyl functional groups. Rheological studies clearly demonstrate that the photocrosslinked gels formed at a temperature above the LCST have higher storage moduli than those prepared at a temperature below the LCST. Moreover, the cross-linking density of the gels can be tuned to tailor their porous structures and mechanical properties by adjusting the composition and concentration of the copolymers," wrote H.Y. Tai and colleagues, University of Washington. The researchers concluded: "Hydrogels with a broad range of storage moduli from 10 to 400 kPa have been produced." Tai and colleagues published the results of their research in Biomacromolecules (Thermoresponsive and Photocrosslinkable PEGMEMA-PPGMA-EGDMA Copolymers from a One-Step ATRP Synthesis. Biomacromolecules, 2009;10(4):822-828). For additional information, contact H.Y. Tai, University of Washington, Dept. of Bioengineering, Box 355061, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. The publisher of the journal Biomacromolecules can be contacted at: American Chemical Society, 1155 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA. Keywords: United States, Box, Life Sciences, Medical Device, Tissue Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Biomacromolecules, Chromatography, University of Washington. This article was prepared by Science Letter editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Science Letter via NewsRx.com.
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