Soft Hydrogels with Double Porosity Modified with RGDS for Tissue Engineering.

This study develops and characterizes novel biodegradable soft hydrogels with dual porosity based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers cross-linked by hydrolytically degradable linkers. The structure and properties of the hydrogels are designed as scaffolds for tissue engineering and they are tested in vitro with model mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs). Detailed morphological characterization confirms dual porosity suitable for cell growth and nutrient transport.

Thiolated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels as a degradable biocompatible scaffold for tissue engineering.

Research of degradable hydrogel polymeric materials exhibiting high water content and mechanical properties resembling tissues is crucial not only in drug delivery systems but also in tissue engineering, medical devices, and biomedical-healthcare sensors. Therefore, we newly offer development of hydrogels based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2-(acetylthio) ethyl methacrylate-co-2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) [P(HEMA-ATEMA-MPC)] and optimization of their mechanical and in vitro and in vivo degradability. P(HEMA-ATEMA-MPC) hydrogels differed in chemical composition, degree of crosslinking, and starting molar mass of polymers (15, 19, and 30 kDa).

Enzymatically Cross-linked Hydrogels Based on Synthetic Poly(α-amino acid)s Functionalized with RGD Peptide for 3D Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture.

Injectable hydrogel scaffolds combined with stem cell therapy represent a promising approach for minimally invasive surgical tissue repair. In this study, we developed and characterized a fully synthetic, biodegradable poly(-(2-hydroxyethyl)-l-glutamine)-based injectable hydrogel modified with integrin-binding arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide (PHEG-Tyr-RGD). The biodegradable hydroxyphenyl polymer precursor derivative of PHEG-Tyr was enzymatically cross-linked to obtain injectable hydrogels with different physicochemical properties.

Self-Assembled Thermoresponsive Polymeric Nanogels for F MR Imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging using fluorinated contrast agents (F MRI) enables to achive highcontrast in images due to the negligible fluorine background in living tissues. In this pilot study, we developed new biocompatible, temperature-responsive, and easily synthesized polymeric nanogels containing a sufficient concentration of magnetically equivalent fluorine atoms for F MRI purposes. The structure of the nanogels is based on amphiphilic copolymers containing two blocks, a hydrophilic poly[ N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) or poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMeOx) block, and a thermoresponsive poly[ N(2,2difluoroethyl)acrylamide] (PDFEA) block.