Eight-armed poly(ethylene glycol) was functionalized with furyl and maleimide groups. The two macromonomers were cross-linked by Diels-Alder (DA) reactions and the degradation behavior of the formed hydrogels was investigated. UV spectroscopy showed that maleimide groups were subject to ring-opening hydrolysis above pH 5.5, with the reaction rate depending on the pH and temperature. As a result of this, the gelation kinetics and stiffness of DA hydrogels were dependent on the temperature and the pH of the cross-linking medium, as demonstrated by rheological experiments. The gel time varied between 87.8 min (pH 3.0, 37 C) and 374.7 min (pH 7.4, 20 C). Values between 420 Pa (pH 9.0, 37 C) and 3327 Pa (pH 3.0, 37 C) were measured for the absolute value of the complex shear modulus. Hydrogel swelling and degradation were influenced by the same parameters. With increasing pH and temperature the degradation time was reduced from 98 days (pH 7.4, 20 C) to 2 days (pH 7.4, 50 C); no degradation was observed at pH 3.0 and 5.5. Molecular modeling studies of the DA and retro-Diels-Alder (rDA) moieties revealed that hydrogel degradation occurred by rDA reaction followed by OH Àcatalyzed ring-opening hydrolysis of maleimide groups to unreactive maleamic acid derivatives.

Eight-armed PEG, molecular mass 10 kDa, was functionalized with furyl and maleimide groups, respectively; the obtained macromonomers were cross-linked via Diels-Alder chemistry. The mesh size (ξ) of the prepared hydrogels was determined by swelling studies, rheology, and low field NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro release of fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled dextrans (FDs) and bevacizumab was investigated. The average mesh size (ξavg) increased from 5.8 ± 0.1 nm to 56 ± 13 nm during degradation, as determined by swelling studies. The result of the rheological measurements (8.0 nm) matched the initial value of ξavg. Low field NMR spectroscopy enabled the determination of the mesh size distribution; the most abundant mesh size was found to be 9.2 nm. In combination with the hydrodynamic radius of the molecule (Rh), the time-dependent increase of ξavg was used to predict the release profiles of incorporated FDs applying an obstruction-scaling model. The predicted release profiles matched the experimentally determined release profiles when Rh < ξavg. However, significant deviations from the theoretical predictions were observed when Rh ≥ ξavg, most likely due to the statistical distribution of ξ in real polymer networks. The release profile of bevacizumab differed from those of equivalently sized FDs. The delayed release of bevacizumab was most likely a result of the globular structure and rigidity of the protein. The observed correlation between ξ and the release rate could facilitate the design of controlled release systems for antibodies.

Amine-modified four- and eight-armed poloxamines were prepared and subsequently functionalized with maleimide or furyl groups. Aqueous solutions of these polymers exhibited an immediate gelation at a temperature above 37 °C. Concomitantly, Diels-Alder reactions gradually cross-linked and cured the gels. Different ratios between four- and eight-armed macromonomers were used to tune hydrogel stability and mechanical properties. In this way, hydrogel stability could be precisely controlled in the range of 14 to 329 days. Controlled release of the model antibody bevacizumab was achieved over a period of 7, 21, and 115 days. Release profiles were triphasic with a low burst; approximately 87% of the released antibody was intact and displayed functional binding. The hydrogels presented in this study are degradable, nontoxic, rapidly gelling, stable, and provide controlled antibody release. They can be tailored to match the demands of various applications and present an attractive platform for antibody delivery.

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The compatibility of selected cross-linking reactions with lysozyme is investigated. Michael-type additions of nucleophilic amino acids to maleimide, vinyl sulfone and acrylamide groups are detected by gel electrophoresis. The degree of modification depends on the polymer and the pH. Complete modification with more than five PEG chains is observed after incubation with mPEG5k-vinyl sulfone at pH 9, whereas 96% of the protein remains unmodified after incubation with mPEG5k-acrylamide at pH 4. Incubation with mPEG5k-thiol results in thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. Hydrogel preparation is simulated by using polymer mixtures. Protein modifications are detected, which may affect the protein structure, decrease activity and bioavailability, and increase the risk for immune responses.

Biodegradable hydrogels were prepared from furan-and maleimide-functionalized eight-armed poly-(ethylene glycol) with an average molecular mass of 40 000 Da (8armPEG40k-furan and 8armPEG40k-maleimide) using the Diels-Alder (DA) reaction as a cross-linking mechanism. Hydrophobic 6-aminohexanoic acid (C 6 ) and 12-aminododecanoic acid (C 12 ) spacers were introduced between the polymer backbone and the functional end-groups; the influence on the gel properties was studied. Modification with C 6 and C 12 spacers induced hydrophobic interactions between the macromonomers leading to association and increased viscosity of the polymer solutions; both effects were influenced by the spacer length. In combination with DA cross-linking, hydrophobic derivatives of 8armPEG40k-furan and 8armPEG40k-maleimide led to hydrogels with improved properties. Upon introduction of C 12 spacers, gelation of 8armPEG40k hydrogels occurred twice as fast. Interestingly, no effect was observed when only one of the two components had been modified. Our experiments suggest that the association of macromonomers by hydrophobic interactions facilitates chemical cross-linking via DA chemistry. This hypothesis is supported by calculations of the network mesh size and the Young's modulus of compression, which showed an increased cross-linking density of hydrophobically modified hydrogels. As a consequence of the increased cross-linking density, the degradation stability of C 12 -modified hydrogels increased by a factor of 4.Moreover, hydrophobic modification improved the hydrolytic resistance of maleimides; this also contributes to gel stability. The in vitro release of bevacizumab, which served as a model antibody, could be delayed for almost 60 days using modification with C 12 . Similar trends were observed for C 6 -modified 8armPEG40k hydrogels; however, the effects were considerably weaker. In summary, utilizing hydrophobic association and chemical cross-linking in tandem is a promising approach to create biodegradable hydrogels for delayed antibody release.

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