Cytotoxicity, in vitro models and preliminary in vivo study of dual physical and chemical gels for endovascular embolization of cerebral aneurysms.

We report the evaluation of dual-gelling poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based polymer systems as embolic agents for intracranial aneurysms. These hydrogels undergo gelation physically via temperature-responsiveness of poly(NIPAAm) and chemically through a Michael-addition reaction between thiol and vinyl functional groups on the copolymers. Cytotoxicity studies were performed for biocompatibility of the hydrogels.

Comparison of properties between NIPAAm-based simultaneously physically and chemically gelling polymer systems for use in vivo.

In this work, a comparison between two different physical-chemical gels, poly(NIPAAm-co-cysteamine) with poly(NIPAAm-co-cysteamine-vinylsulfone) and poly(NIPAAm-co-cysteamine) with poly(NIPAAm-co-HEMA-acrylate), is made. These hydrogels undergo gelation via dual mechanisms: temperature sensitivity (physical gelation) and chemical crosslinking (chemical gelation). The advantages of using both gelation mechanisms are to reduce the creep experienced by purely physical gels and to increase the elastic modulus of purely chemical gels.

Synthesis, characterization and properties of a physically and chemically gelling polymer system using poly(NIPAAm-co-HEMA-acrylate) and poly(NIPAAm-co-cysteamine).

The aim of this work was to develop a simultaneous physically and chemically gelling system using NIPAAm co-polymers. The in situ polymer gel was obtained by synthesizing poly(NIPAAm-co-HEMAacrylate) and poly(NIPAAm-co-cysteamine) through free radical polymerization and further nucleophilic substitution. The purpose of the dual gelation is that physical gelation would take place at higher temperatures as the NIPAAm chains associate, while chemical gelation would occur through a Michael-type addition reaction, resulting in a cross-link forming through a nucleophilic attack of the thiolate on the acrylate.