Electrospinning covalently cross-linking biocompatible hydrogelators

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Kelly M. Schultz (Author) Other; Laura Campo-Deaño (Author) FEUP; Aaron D. Baldwin (Author) Other; Kristi L. Kiick (Author) Other; Christian Clasen (Author) Other; Eric M. Furst (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Polymer

Vol. 54 No. 1

Pages: 363-371

ISSN: 0032-3861

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 10 Citations

INSPEC

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-PHC

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2012.09.060

Abstract (EN): Many hydrogel materials of interest are homogeneous on the micrometer scale. Electrospinning, the formation of sub-micrometer to micrometer diameter fibers by a jet of fluid formed under an electric field, is one process being explored to create rich microstructures. However, electrospinning a hydrogel system as it reacts requires an understanding of the gelation kinetics and corresponding rheology near the liquid-solid transition. In this study, we correlate the structure of electrospun fibers of a covalently cross-linked hydrogelator with the corresponding gelation transition and kinetics. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is used as a carrier polymer in a chemically cross-linking poly(ethylene glycol)-high molecular weight heparin (PEG-HMWH) hydrogel. Using measurements of gelation kinetics from multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT), we correlate the material rheology with the formation of stable fibers. An equilibrated, cross-linked hydrogel is also spun and the PEO is dissolved. In both cases, microstructural features of the electrospun fibers are retained, confirming the covalent nature of the network. The ability to spin fibers of a cross-linking hydrogel system ultimately enables the engineering of materials and microstructural length scales suitable for biological applications.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9