Micro- and nanoscale modification of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels by AFM lithography and nanoparticle incorporation

• Published in: Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology Vol. 5; no. 3; p. 425
• Main Authors: Podestà, A, Ranucci, E, Macchi, L, Bongiorno, G, Ferruti, P, Milani, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2005
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Carbon - chemistry; Hydrogels - analysis; Hydrogels - chemistry; Materials Testing; Micromanipulation - methods; Microscopy, Atomic Force - methods; Nanotechnology - methods; Nanotubes - chemistry; Nanotubes - ultrastructure; Particle Size; Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate - analysis; Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate - chemistry; Surface Properties; Tissue Engineering - instrumentation; Tissue Engineering - methods
• ISSN: 1533-4880
• DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2005.061

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels are widely used as biomaterials. Due to their unique combination of biocompatibility and good mechanical properties, they have potential as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. To this purpose, topographic and chemical patterning at the nano- to the mesoscale is crucial in order to favor and to characterize cell adhesion and proliferation. Here we report the characterization of as-prepared and patterned PHEMA hydrogels, produced by conventional radical polymerization in water and dimethylformamide. We have obtained chemical and morphological micro- and nanoscale patterning by atomic force microscopy based lithography. We also demonstrate that it is possible to incorporate carbon nanoparticles in the hydrogel matrix by supersonic cluster beam deposition.