Effects of the proportion of two different cross-linkers on the material and biological properties of enzymatically degradable PEG hydrogels

Injectable and Degradable PEG Hydrogel with Antibacterial Performance for Promoting Wound Healing

“…In the past decade, tissue engineering has attracted great attention as an alternative to traditional tissue regeneration methods, − and great attempts have been made within this field to synthesize and manufacture scaffolds, which can improve tissue regeneration. − Hydrogel is a kind of hydrophilic polymer material with a lightly cross-linked three-dimensional network structure, which is known for absorbing and retaining a large amount of water while maintaining its own structure insoluble in water. , For wound healing, hydrogels can provide a moist environment for the wound site, absorb exudates, and clean up the local environment to accelerate healing without causing toxicity. − Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is one of the most important raw materials for the preparation of hydrogels. , It has the characteristics of non-toxicity, low immunogenicity, and good biocompatibility and can be excreted through the kidneys without accumulation in the body. , In tissue engineering, scaffolds that can be degraded and remodeled as cells that migrate and synthesize a new extracellular matrix are considered to be more conducive to long-term tissue regeneration . In our previous work, we have successfully synthesized a variety of PEG hydrogels and these hydrogels have great potential in tissue engineering scaffolds. − In addition, our previous research work has also proven that the degradation performance of PEG hydrogels can be tuned to meet different needs by changing the ratio of the degradable cross-linker and the non-degradable cross-linker. , In this research, we also introduced hydrolysis degradable ester groups to endow the hydrogel with degradable properties, thereby making it as a degradable wound dressing. In particular, PEG hydrogel (PEG-50%) prepared via Michael-type addition between cross-linking monomer 4-arm-PEG-MAL and the cross-linkers of hydrolysis degradable PEG-diester-dithiol and non-degradable PEG-dithiol with a ratio of 1:1 was chosen as a representative to discuss its biocompatibility, feasibility as a dressing material, and its role in wound healing.…”

Anticalcification Potential of POSS-PEG Hybrid Hydrogel as a Scaffold Material for the Development of Synthetic Heart Valve Leaflets

“…In our previous work, we prepared PEG hydrogels with excellent biocompatibility via the Michael-type addition reaction under physiological conditions. , However, as a tissue engineering scaffold, the mechanical properties of PEG hydrogels did not reach our expectations. Therefore, we introduced POSS nanoparticles into PEG hydrogels to prepare POSS–PEG hybrid hydrogels. − Compared with PEG hydrogels, the POSS–PEG hybrid hydrogels exhibited improved mechanical behavior, as well as degradation and swelling properties.…”

Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering: Addressing Key Design Needs Toward Clinical Translation

“…The choice of crosslinking agent(s) can directly influence hydrogel degradation, swelling, porosity, and mechanical strength as desired for a specific tissue engineering application. For example, Liu et al mixed non-degradable PEG-dithiol and degradable PEG-metalloproteinase crosslinkers in various ratios with 4-armed PEG-MAL to create enzymatically degradable PEG hydrogels with tunable degradation rates, pore size and mechanical strengths relevant to promote adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation ( Liu et al, 2020 ). However, unless degradation is directly incorporated into the network (as in the Liu et al example above), PEG is not inherently degradable aside from slow oxidation that may occur at the ether linkages in the main PEG chain.…”