Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels containing graphene-based materials for blood-contacting applications: From soft inert to strong degradable material

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Moura, D (Author) Other; Pereira, AT (Author) Other; Ferreira, HP (Author) Other; Barrias, CC (Author) Other; Magalhães, F. D. (Author) FEUP; Bergmeister, H (Author) Other; Goncalves, IC (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Acta Biomaterialia

Vol. 164

Pages: 253-268

ISSN: 1742-7061

Publisher: Elsevier

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-CTF

DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.031

Abstract (EN): Degradable biomaterials for blood-contacting devices (BCDs) are associated with weak mechanical prop-erties, high molecular weight of the degradation products and poor hemocompatibility. Herein, the inert and biocompatible FDA approved poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) hydrogel was turned into a degradable material by incorporation of different amounts of a hydrolytically labile crosslinking agent, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate). In situ addition of 1wt.% of oxidized graphene-based ma-terials (GBMs) with different lateral sizes/thicknesses (single-layer graphene oxide and oxidized forms of few-layer graphene materials) was performed to enhance the mechanical properties of hydrogels. An ulti-mate tensile strength increasing up to 0.2 MPa (293% higher than degradable pHEMA) was obtained using oxidized few-layer graphene with 5 mu m lateral size. Moreover, the incorporation of GBMs has demon-strated to simultaneously tune the degradation time, which ranged from 2 to 4 months. Notably, these features were achieved keeping not only the intrinsic properties of inert pHEMA regarding water uptake, wettability and cytocompatibility (short and long term), but also the non-fouling behavior towards human cells, platelets and bacteria. This new pHEMA hydrogel with degradation and biomechanical performance tuned by GBMs, can therefore be envisioned for different applications in tissue engineering, particularly for BCDs where non-fouling character is essential.Statement of significanceSuitable mechanical properties, low molecular weight of the degradation products and hemocompatibility are key features in degradable blood contacting devices (BCDs), and pave the way for significant improve-ment in the field. In here, a hydrogel with outstanding anti-adhesiveness (pHEMA) provides hemocom-patibility, the presence of a degradable crosslinker provides degradability, and incorporation of graphene oxide reestablishes its strength, allowing tuning of both degradation and mechanical properties. Notably, these hydrogels simultaneously provide suitable water uptake, wettability, cytocompatibility (short and long term), no acute inflammatory response, and non-fouling behavior towards endothelial cells, platelets and bacteria. Such results highlight the potential of these hydrogels to be envisioned for applications in tissue engineered BCDs, namely as small diameter vascular grafts.(c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16