Novel Multifunctional Crosslinkers Based on 3‐(Acryloyloxy)‐2‐Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate for Stimuli‐Responsive Hydrogels
Aleyna Esenturk, Selin Boyaci, Aslihan Ozsan, Yusuf Eren Kaymak, Esra Su, Oguz Okay, Duygu AvciABSTRACT
We present two novel multifunctional dimethacrylate crosslinkers, containing either a dicarboxylic acid or a disulfide linkage, for the preparation of pH or redox‐responsive hydrogels. The crosslinkers, DMSA‐2xAHM and CYS‐2xAHM, are synthesized via a one‐step Michael addition reaction between 3‐(acryloyloxy)‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate (AHM) and either meso‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) or cystamine. They are subsequently used to prepare poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, M n = 575 D) hydrogels. The copolymerization kinetics of the crosslinkers are studied through photo‐DSC, indicating their high rate and conversion. The hydrogels' responsiveness to different stimuli (pH, CaCl 2 , FeCl 3 , and glutathione) is elaborated by measuring their properties such as swelling, degradability and morphology. The mineralization potential of pH sensitive hydrogels for tissue engineering applications was discussed. Furthermore, the hydrogels containing disulfide bonds indicated good self‐healing behavior under temperature due to dynamic disulfide exchange reactions.