Synthesis and Characterization of PEG Dimethacrylates and their Hydrogels

Published

July 1, 2004

Author(s)

Sheng Lin-Gibson, S Bencherif, James A. Cooper, S Wetzel, Joseph M. Antonucci, Brandon M. Vogel, F Horkay, N. R. Washburn

Abstract

Facile synthesis and detailed characterization of photo-polymerizable and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates (PEGDM) and poly(ethylene glycol) urethane-dimethacrylates (PEGUDM) are described. Poly(ethylene glycol)s of various molecular masses (Mn = 1000 g/mol to 8000 g/mol) are reacted with methacrylic anhydride or with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate to form PEGDMs and PEGUDMs, respectively. PEGDMs are also prepared by a microwave-assisted route to achieve fast reaction conversions under a solvent free condition. Combined analyses of 1H NMR and MALDI-TOF MS confirm the formation of prepolymers of high purity and narrow mass distribution (PD < 1.02). Aqueous solutions of the PEGDMs and PEGUDMs (10 % and 20 % by mass fraction) are photo-polymerized to yield hydrogels.Bovine chrondrocytes, seeded in the hydrogels, are used to assess the biocompatibility. Preliminary rheology studies show varied mechanical response but that cells are completely viable in both types of hydrogels after two weeks.

Citation

Biomacromolecules

Volume

5

Issue

No. 4

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

biomaterial, dimethacrylate, hydrogel, MALDI-TOF MS, PEG, photo-crosslink, poly(ethylene glycol), urethane

Citation

Lin-Gibson, S. , Bencherif, S. , Cooper, J. , Wetzel, S. , Antonucci, J. , Vogel, B. , Horkay, F. and Washburn, N. (2004), Synthesis and Characterization of PEG Dimethacrylates and their Hydrogels, Biomacromolecules, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=852307 (Accessed October 27, 2025)