Hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Research Articles

Fast UV-Curable Zwitter-Wettable Coatings with Reliable Antifogging/Frost-Resisting Performances.

Antifogging surfaces with unique properties to migrate severe fog formation have gained extensive interest, which is of particular interest for transparent substrates to obtain high visibility and transparency. To date, a large number of strategies including superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic surfaces and titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based composite coatings have been developed based on different mechanisms. Although these surfaces exhibit effective antifogging properties, the rigid nanostructures, cumbersome preparation, and the need for UV light excitation largely limit their widespread applications. Herein, we report a zwitter-wettable antifogging and frost-resisting coating through a fast UV-curable cross-linking of copolymer with benzophenone groups. A series of random copolymers consisting of hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEA), hydrophobic methyl methacrylate (MMA), and benzophenone-based acrylate units are developed by thermally triggered free-radical polymerization. Upon UV light irradiation, a highly efficient antifogging/frost-resisting coating is covalently bonded on a polycarbonate plate surface, maintaining a light transmission higher than 85%, which was confirmed in both high and low temperature anti-fog tests. Moreover, the wetting behaviors reveal that the antifogging performance exhibited by the zwitter-wettable surface mainly relies on its surface water-adsorbing capability to imbibe condensed water vapor on the surface outmost layer. Notably, the antifogging/frost-resisting behaviors can be well regulated by adjusting the hydrophilic/hydrophobic units, due to the proper balance between the water-adsorption and coating stability. Owing to its simplicity, low-cost preparation and high efficiency, this UV-curable acrylate antifogging coating may find a wide range of applications in various display devices in analytical and detection instruments.

Fluctuation in the Phase Transition Temperature of Poly (NIPAAm-co-HEMA-co-DMAMVA)-Post-Guanine Affected by Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Interaction: Fabrication and Characterizations

The phase separation and transition temperature of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) have been developed by the terpolymerization with new pH-responsive monomer and highly hydrophilic 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The new monomer based on vanillin is called 2-((dimethylamino)methyl)-4-formyl-6-methoxyphenyl acrylate (DMAMVA) and is investigated by chemical methods (1H, 13C NMR, and FTIR). Terpolymers of dual-responsive thermo-pH with functional groups were fabricated via free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), 10 mol% 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and 5, 10, and 20 mol% DMAMVA. A selected terpolymer was used for post-polymerization with guanine via click reaction and the formation of an imine between the aldehyde group of DMAMVA and the amine group of guanine. All terpolymer and post-terpolymer are chemically evaluated. The physical properties have been implemented by GPC (molecular weight and dispersity), DSC (glass transition temperature Tg), TGA (steps of degradation), and SEM (morphological features). The fluctuations in phase transition temperature Tc or the lower critical solution temperature LCST of the polymer solution in different pH solutions have been performed by two methods, first, the turbidity test by UV–Vis-spectroscopy, second, by micro-DSC for aqueous polymer solution. This work will be extended for more applications in bio-separation technology.

Stimuli-responsive copolymeric hydrogels based on oligo(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate for biomedical applications: An optimisation study of pH and thermoresponsive behaviour

Di(meth)acrylate (D(M)A) systems with pendant oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) chains are promising biomedical candidates. Homopolymeric P(OEG)D(M)A hydrogels have significant thermoresponsiveness demonstrated mainly at elevated temperatures which makes this class of materials unsuitable for bio-applications. Copolymerisation with less hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was performed in an effort to shift volume phase transition (VPT) closer to physiological temperatures and to widen their application as thermoresponsive materials. Various monomer-solvent mixtures, consisting of different mole ratios of OEGDMA and HEMA monomers (100/0, 50/50, 27.5/72.5, and 12.5/87.5) and water/ethanol as solvent, were exposed to gamma radiation up to 6, 12, 25, and 50 kGy. Furthermore, in an attempt to obtain multi- (thermo- and pH-) responsive hydrogels for biomedical applications new P(OEGDMA/HEMA/IA) terpolymers containing a small share (2.5, and 5 wt%) of itaconic acid (IA) were synthesised. The successful fabrication of the hydrogels was confirmed by gel measurements and FTIR spectroscopy. Swelling measurements indicated that obtained networks possessed tuneable thermal behaviour and swelling properties which could be significantly altered by hydrogel composition. The porous architecture was investigated using SEM, confirming swelling results. Cytotoxicity revealed relatively high cell viability for all hydrogels, indicating satisfactory in vitro biocompatibility. Therefore, new OEGDMA based hydrogels showed potential for biomedical applications.

Low modification of PETase enhances its activity toward degrading PET: Effect of conjugate monomer property

Polyethylene terephthalate is one of the most widely used synthetic plastics. The accumulation of abandoned PET has brought an environmental problem. A recently reported PET hydrolase, PETase, displays an efficient decomposition to PET. Herein, we synthesized four PETase conjugates by modifying four types of monomers onto PETase, which were hydrophobic tert-butyl methacrylate (TBMA), hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), positively charged 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), and negatively charged methacrylic acid (MA). Despite the low modification with an average number of 3–5 monomers on each enzyme molecule, all the PETase conjugates exhibited improved enzyme activity, and thermal and pH stability. Particularly, the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of TBMA-/DMAEMA-PETase toward bis-2(hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) increased 1.4 and 1.6-fold as compared with PETase. Characterizations by fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy unraveled that the modification induced the structural transformations, including compact overall structure and opened substrate-binding pocket, which were in favor of the enhanced catalytic performance. Biodegradation against PET films by TBMA-/DMAEMA-PETase were 4.69 and 3.26-fold higher than PETase. The different catalytic performances of the enzyme conjugates for BHET and PET are considered due to the different interactions of the conjugates with the different substrates. The work demonstrated that the low modifications with hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers were both effective in improving the catalytic performance toward PET degradation, especially for the hydrophobic and positively charged monomers.

Self-Healable Porous Polyampholyte Hydrogels with Higher Water Content as Cell Culture Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications.

In this paper, we first demonstrate the control of the film pore size using neutral hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) content. To improve the mechanical properties of a polyampholyte (PA), both HEMA and the cross-linker N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (Bis-Am) were introduced into the PA chain. The predesigned copolymers showed great mechanical properties and optical behavior. The introduction of HEMA significantly increased the water content of the polymer, leading to the formation of porous structures in xerogels. The dynamic interaction between the positive and negative termini of the PA endowed the hydrogels with self-healing ability. The synthesized chemically cross-linked PA gels showed high stability in saline solution. The biocompatibility of the PA gels was confirmed using a cytotoxicity test of cells attached to the synthesized PA-X-2 and PA/HEMA-90/10-X-0.5. The results of this investigation indicate that the synthesized PA gels are applicable as a polymeric scaffold for cell culture.

Porous ZnO/2–Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Eluting Coatings for Ureteral Stent Applications

High-surface-area porous coatings represent an interesting option to fabricate eluting stents with additional functionalities, as controlled drug delivery and antibacterial resistance properties. ZnO is a biocompatible material available in various high-surface-area morphologies, with promising antibacterial properties. Hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) polymers (pHEMA) have been widely investigated for their biomedical applications, thanks to their biocompatibility, absence of toxicity, and tunable swelling properties. This work aims to demonstrate the use of porous ZnO/polymer bilayer coatings for future drug eluting stent applications. Sputtered mesoporous ZnO layers were coated with pHEMA and p(HEMA-co-acrylic acid (AA)) films through vacuum infiltration and drop-casting methods. The last approach was found to be the most suitable one for achieving a good polymer infiltration within the ZnO matrix and to avoid the mechanical detachment of the porous film from the substrate. The corresponding release properties were evaluated by loading a fluorescent dye in the host ZnO matrix, before drop-casting the polymer coating. For pure ZnO, the release of the dye was completed after 2 h. For ZnO/pHEMA, the sustained release of the molecule was achieved with only 30% released after 2 h and 100% released after seven days. In this case, the pH-triggered delivery properties were also demonstrated by switching from neutral to acidic pH conditions. No significant changes were obtained for the ZnO/p(HEMA-co-AA) system, which exhibited a faster swelling behavior and a release profile similar to pure ZnO.

In vitro study of a new biodegradable nanocomposite based on poly propylene fumarate as bone glue

A novel poly propylene fumarate (PPF)-based glue which is reinforced by nanobioactive glass (NBG) particles and promoted by hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as crosslinker agent, was developed and investigated for bone-to-bone bonding applications. In-vitro bioactivity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and bone adhesion were tested and the results have verified that it can be used as bone glue. In an in-vitro condition, the prepared nanocomposite (PPF/HEMA/NBG) showed improved adhesion to wet bone surfaces. The combined tension and shear resistance between two wet bone surfaces was measured, and its maximum value was 9±59MPa. To investigate the bioactivity and biodegradability of the nanocomposite, it has been immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). After 14days exposure to SBF, a hydroxyapatite (HA) layer formed on the surface of the composite confirms the bioactivity of this material. In the XRD pattern of the nanocomposite surface, the HA characteristic diffraction peak at θ=26 and 31.8 were observed. Also, by monitoring the weight change after 8weeks immersion in SBF, the mass loss was about 16.46wt%. It has been confirmed that this nanocomposite is a biodegradable material. Also, bioactivity and biodegradability of nanocomposite have been proved by SEM images. It has been showed that by using NBG particles and HEMA precursor, mechanical properties increased significantly. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of nanocomposite which contains 20% NBG and the ratio of 70/30wt% PPF/HEMA (PHB.732) was approximately 62MPa, while the UTS in the pure PPF/HEMA was about 32MPa. High cell viability in this nanocomposite (MTT assays, 85–95%) can be attributed to the NBG nature which contains calcium phosphate and is similar to physiological environment. Furthermore, it possesses biomineralization and biodegradation which significantly affected by impregnation of hydrophilic HEMA in the PPF-based polymeric matrix. The results indicated that the new synthesized biodegradable PPF/HEMA/NBG composite is suitable for biomedical applications especially as biodegradable bone glue in orthopedic surgeries.

Amphiphilic Random Copolymers Consisting of Styrene, EGMA, and HEMA for Anti-Biofouling Coatings

Amphiphilic random copolymers consisting of hydrophobic styrene and hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)/(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (EGMA) were designed and synthesized for anti-biofouling coating materials in buffered aqueous solutions. Random copolymers such as PS-PEGMA, PS-PHEMA, and PS-PEGMA-PHEMA were synthesized, with different monomer ratios, by radical polymerization. The structures and molecular weights of the synthesized polymers were determined by 1H-NMR and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. Protein adsorption experiments on the polymer surfaces were carried out using fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate-labeled bovine serum albumin. Experimental results suggest that the surfaces of the amphiphilic random copolymers have a good anti-biofouling effect.

Enzyme-Triggered Cascade Reactions and Assembly of Abiotic Block Copolymers into Micellar Nanostructures

Catalytic action of an enzyme is shown to transform a non-assembling block copolymer, composed of a completely non-natural repeat unit structure, into a self-assembling polymer building block. To achieve this, poly(styrene) is combined with an enzyme-sensitive methacrylate-based polymer segment carrying carefully designed azobenzene side chains. Once exposed to the enzyme azoreductase, in the presence of coenzyme NADPH, the azobenzene linkages undergo a bond scission reaction. This triggers a spontaneous 1,6-self-elimination cascade process and transforms the initially hydrophobic methacrylate polymer segment into a hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate structure. This change in chemical polarity of one of the polymer blocks confers an amphiphilic character to the diblock copolymer and permits it to self-assemble into a micellar nanostructure in water.

Surface-modified reverse osmosis membranes applying a copolymer film to reduce adhesion of bacteria as a strategy for biofouling control

The hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and the hydrophobic perfluoro decylacrylate (PFDA) were copolymerized and deposited on different substrates using an initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) technique. By adjusting the relative flow rates of the two monomer gases, it was possible to control both the chemistry and thickness of the deposited films. Copolymers of different chemistries were first deposited on quartz crystals and the adsorption of a model polysaccharide, sodium alginate, was studied with the help of Quartz Crystal Microscopy (QCM). The copolymer film with amphiphilic chemistry showed considerably less foulant adsorption in comparison with the pure homopolymers i.e. PHEMA and PPFDA. The films were then deposited on commercial RO membranes and the modified surfaces characterized with AFM, CA and XPS. Resistance to bacterial adhesion was examined for the coated membranes by carrying out short-term batch studies with Escherichia coli cells. Among the different film chemistries, the membrane with the copolymer film of amphiphilic chemistry (∼40% PFA) showed the least microbial attachment. Bacterial adhesion tests were then repeated with the unmodified RO membrane and the membrane coated with the optimum chemistry. A quantitative analysis revealed that the presence of the amphiphilic copolymer film on the membrane results in a reduction of attached bacteria by about two orders of magnitude. To summarize, the surface modification of membranes with an initiated CVD technique presents a potentially effective strategy for the control of membrane biofouling.

Surface modification of reverse osmosis desalination membranes by thin-film coatings deposited by initiated chemical vapor deposition

Thin-film polymeric reverse osmosis membranes, due to their high permeation rates and good salt rejection capabilities, are widely used for seawater desalination. However, these membranes are prone to biofouling, which affects their performance and efficiency. In this work, we report a method to modify the membrane surface without damaging the active layer or significantly affecting the performance of the membrane. Amphiphilic copolymer films of hydrophilic hydroxyethylmethacrylate and hydrophobic perfluorodecylacrylate (PFA) were synthesized and deposited on commercial RO membranes using an initiated chemical vapor deposition technique which is a polymer deposition technique that involves free-radical polymerization initiated by gas-phase radicals. Relevant surface characteristics such as hydrophilicity and roughness could be systematically controlled by varying the polymer chemistry. Increasing the hydrophobic PFA content in the films leads to an increase in the surface roughness and hydrophobicity. Furthermore, the surface morphology studies performed using the atomic force microscopy show that as the thickness of the coating increases average surface roughness increases. Using this knowledge, the coating thickness and chemistry were optimized to achieve high permeate flux and to reduce cell attachment. Results of the static bacterial adhesion tests show that the attachment of bacterial cells is significantly reduced on the coated membranes.

Cyclometalated Ruthenium(II) Complex as a Versatile Catalyst for Living/Controlled Radical Polymerization of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Monomers

AbstractCyclometalated complex, cis‐[Ru(phpy)(phen)(MeCN)2]PF6, bearing strongly bound ligands (phpy = 2‐phenylpyridine, phen = 1, 10‐ phenantroline) and relatively labile (MeCN) ligands, in conjunction with ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBiB), was used for radical polymerization of three hydrophobic, styrene (St), methyl methacrylate (MMA), n‐butyl acrylate (BA), and one hydrophilic, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), monomers. The polymerizations were fast and reasonably controlled; the molecular weights increased with conversion and were close to the calculated values. The best control was achieved in polymerization of St. The complex was able to mediate this polymerization with acceptable rate and level of control even at a monomer/catalyst ratio of 2000. The living character of the polymerizations was confirmed by chain extension experiments; the degree of polymer “livingness” was less for PMMA than for PSt. Because of ionic nature, the complex was well soluble in MeOH and thus catalyzed polymerization of HEMA under homogeneous conditions at 50 °C.

An approach for assessing hydrogel hydrophobicity

Hydrogel hydrophobicity is an important modulator of mammalian cell behavior, drug payload release, and medical device fouling. Contact angle and protein adsorption measures are two common methods for evaluating hydrogel hydrophobicity. However, protein adsorption is a complex phenomenon which is challenging to interpret in terms of gel hydrophobicity alone. In addition, the permeability of hydrogels can be problematic for contact angle assessment, as this method can only be strictly applied to smooth, solid, and nonpermeable surfaces. Therefore, the development of a technique for measuring hydrogel hydrophobicity which is simple, sensitive, and independent of variations in gel permeability would significantly advance the ability to finely tune this variable. The present technical note develops a method for quantifying the hydrophobicity of hydrogels by exploiting their capacity to swell differentially in solvents of distinct polarities. To validate this technique, hydrogels of varying hydrophobicities were prepared by combining hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) with either hydrophobic 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) or hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The ratio of hydrogel swelling in 70% isopropanol to that in water was termed the hydrophobicity index (H-index) and was determined for each gel type. The measured H-indices reflected known differences in the hydrophobicities of HEMA, TMSPM, and PEGDA and, in contrast to contact angle assessments, appeared to be independent of variations in hydrogel permeability. In addition, the trend in H-indices agreed well with the trend in protein adsorption across hydrogel formulations, although the H-indices appeared to be able to resolve more subtle differences in gel hydrophobicity than protein adsorption measures.

Cell Adhesion and Glistening Formation in Hybrid Copolymer Intraocular Lenses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the cell adhesion and glistening formation properties of various foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) in vitro. Three conventional hydrophobic methacrylate acrylic (MA) IOLs, a hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) IOL and a hybrid MA/HEMA copolymer IOL were investigated for immunologically activated cell adhesion and for formation of glistenings resulting from cavitation, by analysis of digital images using NIH Image J PC software. The MA IOLs exhibited a low level of adhering cells but a high level of glistening formation, the HEMA IOL exhibited the reverse tendency, and the MA/HEMA IOL exhibited a low level of both, thus indicating that hybrid MA/HEMA IOLs are less susceptible than HEMA IOLs to cell adhesion and less susceptible than MA IOLs to glistening formation.

Random copolymer films as potential antifouling coatings for reverse osmosis membranes

Adsorption of biopolymers such as proteins and polysaccharides is known to expedite/facilitate microbial attachment and subsequent formation of biofilm on membrane surface that ultimately results in membrane biofouling. Therefore, surfaces that resist the adhesion of biopolymers can potentially block the irreversible attachment of microorganisms as well. Recently, it was shown that random copolymerization of the hydrophilic hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) monomer with the hydrophobic perfluorodecylacrylate (PFA) monomer leads to a surface that interferes with the adsorption of a representative protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA). In this work, we explore the feasibility of using these copolymer films as potential antifouling coatings on commercial RO membranes. The films were deposited using iCVD technique that allows good composition control, is solvent-free and can be done readily at room temperature. Characterization and performance evaluation of the coated membranes was carried out using different techniques. Scanning Electron Microscopy images showed the coatings to be conformal and continuous. The surface topology of the membranes was analyzed with Atomic Force Microscopy. The results confirmed that the copolymer film does not cause a significant increase in the membrane surface roughness (a crucial parameter in biofouling). Short-term permeation tests with DI water proved that copolymer films of 20nm thickness did not cause any significant decline in permeate water flux.

Structure-Composition-Property Relationships in Polymeric Amorphous Calcium Phosphate-Based Dental Composites

Our studies of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)-based materials over the last decade have yielded bioactive polymeric composites capable of protecting teeth from demineralization or even regenerating lost tooth mineral. The anti-cariogenic/re-mineralizing potential of these ACP composites originates from their propensity, when exposed to the oral environment, to release in a sustained manner sufficient levels of mineral-forming calcium and phosphate ions to promote formation of stable apatitic tooth mineral. However, the less than optimal ACP filler/resin matrix cohesion, excessive polymerization shrinkage and water sorption of these experimental materials can adversely affect their physicochemical and mechanical properties, and, ultimately, limit their lifespan. This study demonstrates the effects of chemical structure and composition of the methacrylate monomers used to form the matrix phase of composites on degree of vinyl conversion (DVC) and water sorption of both copolymers and composites and the release of mineral ions from the composites. Modification of ACP surface via introducing cations and/or polymers ab initio during filler synthesis failed to yield mechanically improved composites. However, moderate improvement in composite’s mechanical stability without compromising its remineralization potential was achieved by silanization and/or milling of ACP filler. Using ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate or urethane dimethacrylate as base monomers and adding moderate amounts of hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or its isomer ethyl-α-hydroxymethacrylate appears to be a promising route to maximize the remineralizing ability of the filler while maintaining high DVC. Exploration of the structure/composition/property relationships of ACP fillers and polymer matrices is complex but essential for achieving a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that govern dissolution/re-precipitation of bioactive ACP fillers, and, ultimately, the suitability of the composites for clinical evaluation.

Kinetics of acrylate emulsion polymerization containing hydrophilic hydroxyl monomer in the presence of nano‐SiO2 particles

AbstractKinetics of acrylate emulsion polymerization containing hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylic acid (AA) in the presence of nano‐SiO2 were investigated. The influence of temperature, emulsifier level, hydroxyl monomer content and the level of nano‐SiO2 on monomer conversion, polymerization rate (Rp), and the particle size was studied. The results showed that the presence of nano‐SiO2 increased the Rp when the level was below 5% but decreased when the level was above 7.5%, the more levels, the more seriously. As the temperature and emulsifier levels increased, and the presence of hydroxyl monomer, the Rp increased. The active energy of the system was 142.01 kJ/mol and the relationship of Rp and the concentration of emulsifier (E) was Rp ∞ [E]0.38. The mean particle size increased, particle size distribution became broader as the nano‐SiO2 levels increased. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Swelling behaviors, tensile properties and thermodynamic interactions in APS/HEMA copolymeric hydrogels

A series of hydrogels was synthesized from hydrophobic allyl phenyl sulfone (APS) and hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) by bulk free radical copolymerization. The effects of APS content and temperature were studied on network parameters such as effective crosslink density (ve), molar mass between crosslinks (Mc) and polymer-water interaction parameter (x) of hydrogels. The increase in APS content was shown to enhance hydrophobic bonding within hydrogel, leading to the decrease in equilibrium water content (EWC) and the increase in volume fraction of polymer in hydrogel (ϕ2), tensile strength and Young’s modulus. At the same time, the increases in ve and x and the decrease in Mc were also observed. When the temperature is increased from 273 to 343 K, the hydrogel A/H3 undergoes decreasing in EWC and increasing in ϕ2 and x values. The thermody namic analysis indicated that the swelling process is an exothermic process.

Acrylic scaffolds with interconnected spherical pores and controlled hydrophilicity for tissue engineering

Polymer scaffolds are obtained in which the geometric characteristics (pore size, connectivity, porosity) and the physico-chemical properties of the resulting material can be controlled in an independent way. The interconnected porous structure was obtained using a template of sintered PMMA microspheres of controlled size. Copolymerization of hydrophobic ethyl acrylate and hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate comonomers took place in the free space of the template, different comonomer ratio gave rise to different hydrophilicity degrees of the material keeping the same pore architecture. The morphology of the resulting scaffolds was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the porosity of the material calculated, and the mechanical properties compared with those of the bulk (non porous) material of the same composition.

Acrylic scaffolds with interconnected spherical pores and controlled hydrophilicity for tissue engineering

Polymer scaffolds are obtained in which the geometric characteristics (pore size, connectivity, porosity) and the physico-chemical properties of the resulting material can be controlled in an independent way. The interconnected porous structure was obtained using a template of sintered PMMA microspheres of controlled size. Copolymerization of hydrophobic ethyl acrylate and hydrophilic hydroxyethyl methacrylate comonomers took place in the free space of the template, different comonomer ratio gave rise to different hydrophilicity degrees of the material keeping the same pore architecture. The morphology of the resulting scaffolds was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the porosity of the material calculated, and the mechanical properties compared with those of the bulk (non porous) material of the same composition.