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New synthetic route to improve uniformity of cell-releasing PEG-based hydrogel carriers

  • MRS 50th Anniversary Research Letter
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Abstract

Cell-releasing hydrogel carriers enhance cell-based therapies by improving retention and viability within target tissues. We previously demonstrated tunable cell release from a hydrolytically labile β-thioester-containing polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel. However, the macromer synthesis dependent on thiol-Michael addition leads to batch variability and heterogeneous hydrogel properties. Herein, we report a new synthetic route with improved control of macromer molecular weight and characterize the resulting hydrogel properties. The resulting PEG dithioester acrylamide (PEGDTEA) hydrogel demonstrates a more controlled synthetic route to generate targeted molecular weights with reduced couplings, creating a more predictable and tunable hydrogel microenvironment for precise cell delivery applications.

Graphical abstract

Synthesis of thioester containing PEG macromer for more predictable and tunable cell-releasing hydrogels

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIAMS R21 AR076708) and the Early Career Provost Fellowship Program from the Provost's Office of Diversity at the University of Texas at Austin. Graphical abstract was created using BioRender.com.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 107 W. Dean Keeton, BME 3.503D, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Mykel Green, Ashley Hicks, Taylor Sullivan, Patience Oliviera, Bhanaviya Venkat & Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernandez

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  1. Mykel Green
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  2. Ashley Hicks
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  3. Taylor Sullivan
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  4. Patience Oliviera
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernandez.

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Green, M., Hicks, A., Sullivan, T. et al. New synthetic route to improve uniformity of cell-releasing PEG-based hydrogel carriers. MRS Communications 13, 901–906 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-023-00446-y

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