An improved correlation to predict molecular weight between crosslinks based on equilibrium degree of swelling of hydrogel networks

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials Vol. 106; no. 3; pp. 1339 - 1348
• Main Authors: Jimenez-Vergara, Andrea C, Lewis, John, Hahn, Mariah S, Munoz-Pinto, Dany J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Correlation; Crosslinking; Finite element method; Formulations; Hydrogels; Materials research; Materials science; Molecular weight; Properties (attributes); Swelling; equilibrium degree of swelling; hydrogels; mesh size; molecular weight between crosslinks
• ISSN: 1552-4973; 1552-4981
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.33942

Accurate characterization of hydrogel diffusional properties is of substantial importance for a range of biotechnological applications. The diffusional capacity of hydrogels has commonly been estimated using the average molecular weight between crosslinks (M ), which is calculated based on the equilibrium degree of swelling. However, the existing correlation linking M and equilibrium swelling fails to accurately reflect the diffusional properties of highly crosslinked hydrogel networks. Also, as demonstrated herein, the current model fails to accurately predict the diffusional properties of hydrogels when polymer concentration and molecular weight are varied simultaneously. To address these limitations, we evaluated the diffusional properties of 48 distinct hydrogel formulations using two different photoinitiator systems, employing molecular size exclusion as an alternative methodology to calculate average hydrogel mesh size. The resulting data were then utilized to develop a revised correlation between M and hydrogel equilibrium swelling that substantially reduces the limitations associated with the current correlation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1339-1348, 2018.