Dual Cross-Linking Systems of Functionally Photo-Cross-Linkable and Thermoresponsive Polyphosphazene Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

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• 作者：Thrimoorthy Potta ; ChangJu Chun ; Soo-Chang Song
• 刊名：Biomacromolecules
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：July 12, 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：11
• 期：7
• 页码：1741-1753
• 全文大小：641K
• 年卷期：v.11,no.7(July 12, 2010)
• ISSN：1526-4602

文摘

Photo-cross-linkable, functionalized, and thermosensitive polyphosphazenes were synthesized to develop a dual cross-linking system with properties of mechanically suitable strength and controllable biodegradation for injectable biomedical applications. The aqueous solutions of the polymers exhibited sol−gel transition behaviors against temperature. The incorporated methacrylate groups were photo-cross-linked upon UV light under mild conditions, which resulted in the formation of compact three-dimensional networks. The thermoresponsive hydrophobic interactions at body temperature facilitated the rapid dual cross-linking accomplishment of the photo-cross-linking even under mild conditions. The characteristics of the polymers such as pore size and density showed that the inner three-dimensional networks depended on the degree of cross-linking of methacrylate units. Mechanical properties of the gel were also improved several folds after developing the photo-cross-linking in the network from the in vivo degradation studies. The results demonstrate that the photo-cross-linkable and thermoresponsive polyphosphazenes have great potential as injectable, biodegradable, and controllable carriers for various biomedical applications by tuning the mechanical gel property and the degradation rate.