@article{BrandForsterBoecketal.2022, author = {Brand, Jessica S. and Forster, Leonard and B{\"o}ck, Thomas and Stahlhut, Philipp and Teßmar, J{\"o}rg and Groll, J{\"u}rgen and Albrecht, Krystyna}, title = {Covalently Cross-Linked Pig Gastric Mucin Hydrogels Prepared by Radical-Based Chain-Growth and Thiol-ene Mechanisms}, series = {Macromolecular Bioscience}, volume = {22}, journal = {Macromolecular Bioscience}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1002/mabi.202100274}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318453}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Mucin, a high molecular mass hydrophilic glycoprotein, is the main component of mucus that coats every wet epithelium in animals. It is thus intrinsically biocompatible, and with its protein backbone and the o-glycosidic bound oligosaccharides, it contains a plethora of functional groups which can be used for further chemical modifications. Here, chain-growth and step-growth (thiol-ene) free-radical cross-linked hydrogels prepared from commercially available pig gastric mucin (PGM) are introduced and compared as cost-efficient and easily accessible alternative to the more broadly applied bovine submaxillary gland mucin. For this, PGM is functionalized with photoreactive acrylate groups or allyl ether moieties, respectively. Whereas homopolymerization of acrylate-functionalized polymers is performed, for thiol-ene cross-linking, the allyl-ether-functionalized PGM is cross-linked with thiol-functionalized hyaluronic acid. Morphology, mechanical properties, and cell compatibility of both kinds of PGM hydrogels are characterized and compared. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of these hydrogels can be evaluated in cell culture experiments.}, language = {en} } @article{HahnBeudertGutmannetal.2021, author = {Hahn, Lukas and Beudert, Matthias and Gutmann, Marcus and Keßler, Larissa and Stahlhut, Philipp and Fischer, Lena and Karakaya, Emine and Lorson, Thomas and Thievessen, Ingo and Detsch, Rainer and L{\"u}hmann, Tessa and Luxenhofer, Robert}, title = {From Thermogelling Hydrogels toward Functional Bioinks: Controlled Modification and Cytocompatible Crosslinking}, series = {Macromolecular Bioscience}, volume = {21}, journal = {Macromolecular Bioscience}, number = {10}, doi = {10.1002/mabi.202100122}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257542}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Hydrogels are key components in bioink formulations to ensure printability and stability in biofabrication. In this study, a well-known Diels-Alder two-step post-polymerization modification approach is introduced into thermogelling diblock copolymers, comprising poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) and thermoresponsive poly(2-n-propyl-2-oxazine). The diblock copolymers are partially hydrolyzed and subsequently modified by acid/amine coupling with furan and maleimide moieties. While the thermogelling and shear-thinning properties allow excellent printability, trigger-less cell-friendly Diels-Alder click-chemistry yields long-term shape-fidelity. The introduced platform enables easy incorporation of cell-binding moieties (RGD-peptide) for cellular interaction. The hydrogel is functionalized with RGD-peptides using thiol-maleimide chemistry and cell proliferation as well as morphology of fibroblasts seeded on top of the hydrogels confirm the cell adhesion facilitated by the peptides. Finally, bioink formulations are tested for biocompatibility by incorporating fibroblasts homogenously inside the polymer solution pre-printing. After the printing and crosslinking process good cytocompatibility is confirmed. The established bioink system combines a two-step approach by physical precursor gelation followed by an additional chemical stabilization, offering a broad versatility for further biomechanical adaptation or bioresponsive peptide modification.}, language = {en} } @article{BorovaTokarevStahlhutetal.2020, author = {Borova, Solomiia and Tokarev, Victor and Stahlhut, Philipp and Luxenhofer, Robert}, title = {Crosslinking of hydrophilic polymers using polyperoxides}, series = {Colloid and Polymer Science}, volume = {298}, journal = {Colloid and Polymer Science}, doi = {10.1007/s00396-020-04738-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-238109}, pages = {1699-1713}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Hydrogels that can mimic mechanical properties and functions of biological tissue have attracted great interest in tissue engineering and biofabrication. In these fields, new materials and approaches to prepare hydrogels without using toxic starting materials or materials that decompose into toxic compounds remain to be sought after. Here, we report the crosslinking of commercial, unfunctionalized hydrophilic poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) using peroxide copolymers in their melt. The influence of temperature, peroxide copolymer concentration, and duration of the crosslinking process has been investigated. The method allows to create hydrogels from unfunctionalized polymers in their melt and to control the mechanical properties of the resulting materials. The design of hydrogels with a suitable mechanical performance is of crucial importance in many existing and potential applications of soft materials, including medical applications.}, language = {en} }