Influence of Molecular Weight and Grafting Density of PEG on the Surface Properties of Polyurethanes and Their Effect on the Viability and Morphology of Fibroblasts and Osteoblasts.

Grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) onto a polymer's surface is widely used to improve biocompatibility by reducing protein and cell adhesion. Although PEG is considered to be bioinert, its incorporation onto biomaterials has shown to improve cell viability depending on the amount and molecular weight (MW) used. This phenomenon was studied here by grafting PEG of three MW onto polyurethane (PU) substrata at three molar concentrations to assess their effect on PU surface properties and on the viability of osteoblasts and fibroblasts.

Cell-free scaffold from jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda (Cnidaria; Scyphozoa) for skin tissue engineering.

Disruption of the continuous cutaneous membrane in the integumentary system is considered a health problem of high cost for any nation. Several attempts have been made for developing skin substitutes in order to restore injured tissue including autologous implants and the use of scaffolds based on synthetic and natural materials. Current biomaterials used for skin tissue repair include several scaffold matrices types, synthetic or natural, absorbable, degradable or non-degradable polymers, porous or dense scaffolds, and cells capsulated in hydrogels or spheroids systems so forth.