Tunable multifunctional tissue engineering scaffolds composed of three‐component polyampholyte polymers

Abstract

ABSTRACTResistance to nonspecific protein adsorption and the capability to provide targeted bioactive signals are essential qualities for implantable biomaterials. The development of materials that combine these multifunctional characteristics and tunable mechanical properties has been a target in the tissue engineering field over the last decade. This study is the first to demonstrate that polyampholyte hydrogels prepared with equimolar quantities of positively charged and negatively charged monomer subunits from multiple monomer compositions have great potential to address these needs. The hydrogels were synthesized with positively charged [2‐(acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride and different monomer ratios of the negatively charged 2‐carboxyethyl acrylate and 3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate monomers. The physical and chemical properties of the hydrogels were fully characterized, including swelling, hydration, mechanical strength, and chemical composition, and the fouling resistance of the hydrogels was demonstrated using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Additionally, the capability of the hydrogels to facilitate protein conjugation via EDC/NHS conjugation chemistry was assessed. The results clearly demonstrate that the polyampholyte hydrogels have a range of tunable mechanical strength based on the monomer subunits, while maintaining their excellent nonfouling properties. Additionally, high levels of conjugated protein were achieved for all of the monomer combinations investigated. Therefore, the broadly applicable multifunctional properties of polyampholyte hydrogels and their tunable mechanical properties clearly demonstrate the potential of these materials for tissue engineering. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43985.