A novel synthetic route for the preparation of hydrolytically degradable synthetic hydrogels.

A variety of approaches have been described for the modification of synthetic, water soluble polymers with hydrolytically degradable bonds and terminal vinyl groups that can be crosslinked in situ by photo- or redox-initiated free radical polymerization. However, changes in macromer concentration, functionality, and molecular weight commonly used to achieve variable degradation rates simultaneously alter hydrogel mechanical properties. Herein, we describe a novel, two-step synthetic route for the preparation of hydrolytically degradable, crosslinkable PEG-based macromers based on chemical intermediaries that form ester linkages with variable alkyl chain length.