Abstract
The preparation of smart polymeric particles in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) presents many advantages for biomedical applications over conventional processes due to the easy elimination of trace contaminants rendering highly pure particles. Herein we report the successful optimization of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) synthesis strategy to obtain cell-sized hydrogel microbeads with defined and systematically varied mechanical properties. The effect of using different hydrophilic cross-linkers such as N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAm), di(ethylene) glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDMA) and glycerol dimethacrylate (GDMA), on beads morphological, physico-chemical and mechanical properties was investigated. In agreement with a larger water uptake ability beads cross-linked with DEGDMA are more compliant than those containing MBAm or GDMA, having lower stiffness as accessed through oscillatory measurements on a rotational rheometer. Cytotoxicity assays showed that the obtained cross-linked PNIPAAm microbeads do not present any toxic effect on fibroblast cell cultures. Microbeads biocompatibility and adequate mechanical compliance enable their potential application on biomedical settings.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
