Crosslinkable PEO-PPO-PEO-based reverse thermo-responsive gels as injectable materials

SOSNIK,A.; COHN,D.; SAN ROMAN,J; ABRAHAM,G.A.

JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE - POLYMER EDITION

Brill Academic Publishers

Lugar: The Netherlands; Año: 2003 vol. 14 p. 227 - 239

0920-5063

This paper describes the functionalization and crosslinking of PluronicRTM derivatives in aqueous solution at 37± C. Pluronic dimethacrylate was obtained by reacting native PEO-PPO-PEO triblocks with methacryloyl chloride and then crosslinking them by free radical polymerization at 37± C, using a redox system. The resulting gel and its rheological behavior were characterized by different techniques. The swelling study of the crosslinked polymer was indicative of its reverse thermo-responsive behavior, as illustrated by the almost 800% water uptake of the polymer at 37± C, as opposed to the 1600% attained by the polymer at 25± C. As expected, while the Pluronic dimethacrylate gel displayed an Ec value of 142:5 § 29:7 kPa at 37± C, the crosslinked system attained a Young’s modulus three times higher: 415:2 § 45:7 kPa. Finally, the environmental SEM analysis revealed the porous microstructure of the crosslinked gels