Macroporous hydrogels based on carbohydrates monomethacrylates and dimethacrylates: singular properties from carbohydrate-based crosslinkers

Author(s)

Perin, Giovanni Bortoloni ^[1] ; Fonseca, Lucas Polo ^[1] ; Felisberti, Maria Isabel ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Chem, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY; v. 94, n. 6, p. 1913-1924, JUN 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

BACKGROUND Readily available feedstock and biocompatibility make carbohydrate-based hydrogels promising materials for biomedical applications. However, carbohydrate-based crosslinkers are rather underexplored when compared with crosslinkers derived from fossil resources. In this study, novel fully bio-based hydrogels derived from enzymatically produced d-fructose and d-glucose methacrylate monomers were synthesized with different amounts of d-fructose dimethacrylate crosslinker. RESULTS The use of a carbohydrate-based crosslinker endows hydrogels with high swelling coefficients, up to 2400%, and superior mechanical resistance (compressive modulus up to 9.5 kPa with a maximum stress up to 50 kPa) compared with conventional crosslinkers based on fossil resources. Hydrogels shape and crosslinking density influences hydrogel morphology, swelling behavior and mechanical resistance. Moreover, hydrogels presented cell viability, biodegradability and hydrolysis-resistance over a wide range of pH. CONCLUSION The use of a highly hydrophilic crosslinker based on carbohydrate for hydrogels synthesis enables the use of high crosslinker concentration, which improves mechanical properties, however with minor loss of the water swelling capacity, compared with conventional fossil-based crosslinkers. This is an important advantage over conventional crosslinkers based on fossil resources. Moreover, slab hydrogels hold higher stress under compression-decompression cycles, and present higher resistance to hydrolysis in basic medium due to the thicker pore walls than cylindrical ones. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/17804-7 - Polymeric composites
• Grantee: Maria Isabel Felisberti
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/14232-3 - Hydrogels based on polymethacrylates of glucose and fructose
• Grantee: Giovanni Bortoloni Perin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 15/25406-5 - Organizing matter: colloids formed by association of surfactants, polymers and nanoparticles
• Grantee: Watson Loh
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants