Polymer Science Faculty Research
Synthesis and characterization of bioactive PEGDM hydrogels
Abstract
Polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDM) was prepared by the reaction of PEG-hydroxyl endgroup and methacrylic anhydride. The protein integrin-binding domain of fibronectin (GRGDS peptide sequence), prepared by FMOC chemistry, was covalently linked to a methacrylate endgroup via the reaction with glycidyl methacrylate. The product RGD-MA was confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 1H NMR. The PEGDM and RGD-MA were copolymerized in water or growth media to form bioactive hydrogels. Preliminary studies showed significant differences in cell adhesion to hydrogels with and without RGD incorporation.
This paper has been withdrawn.