Development and Characterization of Degradable Thiol-Allyl Ether Photopolymers

Thionolactone as a Resin Additive to Prepare (Bio)degradable 3D Objects via VAT Photopolymerization

Three-dimensional (3D) printing and especially VAT photopolymerization leads to cross-linked materials with high thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Nevertheless, these properties are incompatible with requirements of degradability and re/upcyclability. We show here that thionolactone and in particular dibenzo[c,e]-oxepane-5-thione (DOT) can be used as an additive (2 wt %) to acrylate-based resins to introduce weak bonds into the network via a radical ring-opening polymerization process. The low amount of additive makes it possible to modify the printability of the resin only slightly, keep its resolution intact, and maintain the mechanical properties of the 3D object. The resin with additive was used in UV microfabrication and two-photon stereolithography setups and commercial 3D printers. The fabricated objects were shown to degrade in basic solvent as well in a homemade compost. The rate of degradation is nonetheless dependent on the size of the object. This feature was used to prepare 3D objects with support structures that could be easily solubilized.

Mechanics of 3D Cell-Hydrogel Interactions: Experiments, Models, and Mechanisms

Hydrogels are highly water-swollen molecular networks that are ideal platforms to create tissue mimetics owing to their vast and tunable properties. As such, hydrogels are promising cell-delivery vehicles for applications in tissue engineering and have also emerged as an important base for ex vivo models to study healthy and pathophysiological events in a carefully controlled three-dimensional environment. Cells are readily encapsulated in hydrogels resulting in a plethora of biochemical and mechanical communication mechanisms, which recapitulates the natural cell and extracellular matrix interaction in tissues. These interactions are complex, with multiple events that are invariably coupled and spanning multiple length and time scales. To study and identify the underlying mechanisms involved, an integrated experimental and computational approach is ideally needed. This review discusses the state of our knowledge on cell-hydrogel interactions, with a focus on mechanics and transport, and in this context, highlights recent advancements in experiments, mathematical and computational modeling. The review begins with a background on the thermodynamics and physics fundamentals that govern hydrogel mechanics and transport. The review focuses on two main classes of hydrogels, described as semiflexible polymer networks that represent physically cross-linked fibrous hydrogels and flexible polymer networks representing the chemically cross-linked synthetic and natural hydrogels. In this review, we highlight five main cell-hydrogel interactions that involve key cellular functions related to communication, mechanosensing, migration, growth, and tissue deposition and elaboration. For each of these cellular functions, recent experiments and the most up to date modeling strategies are discussed and then followed by a summary of how to tune hydrogel properties to achieve a desired functional cellular outcome. We conclude with a summary linking these advancements and make the case for the need to integrate experiments and modeling to advance our fundamental understanding of cell-matrix interactions that will ultimately help identify new therapeutic approaches and enable successful tissue engineering.

Hydrolytically degradable poly(β-thioether ester ketal) thermosets via radical-mediated thiol–ene photopolymerization

Poly(β-thioether ester ketal) networks are reported that undergo complete degradation with tuneable degradation profiles under acid and/or basic conditions.

Fabrication and characterization of thiol-triacrylate polymer via Michael addition reaction for biomedical applications

Thiol-acrylate polymers have therapeutic potential as biocompatible scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. Synthesis of a novel cyto-compatible and biodegradable polymer composed of trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate-trimethylolpropane tris (3-mercaptopropionate) (TMPeTA-TMPTMP) using a simple amine-catalyzed Michael addition reaction is reported in this study. This study explores the impact of molecular weight and crosslink density on the cyto-compatibility of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells. Eight groups were prepared with two different average molecular weights of trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (TMPeTA 692 and 912) and four different concentrations of diethylamine (DEA) as catalyst. The materials were physically characterized by mechanical testing, wettability, mass loss, protein adsorption and surface topography. Cyto-compatibility of the polymeric substrates was evaluated by LIVE/DEAD staining^® and DNA content assay of cultured human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) on the samples over over days. Surface topography studies revealed that TMPeTA (692) samples have island pattern features whereas TMPeTA (912) polymers showed pitted surfaces. Water contact angle results showed a significant difference between TMPeTA (692) and TMPeTA (912) monomers with the same DEA concentration. Decreased protein adsorption was observed on TMPeTA (912) -16% DEA compared to other groups. Fluorescent microscopy also showed distinct hASCs attachment behavior between TMPeTA (692) and TMPeTA (912), which is due to their different surface topography, protein adsorption and wettability. Our finding suggested that this thiol-acrylate based polymer is a versatile, cyto-compatible material for tissue engineering applications with tunable cell attachment property based on surface characteristics.

Additive Manufacturing for Guided Bone Regeneration: A Perspective for Alveolar Ridge Augmentation

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has become an important tool in the field of tissue engineering and its further development will lead to completely new clinical possibilities. The ability to create tissue scaffolds with controllable characteristics, such as internal architecture, porosity, and interconnectivity make it highly desirable in comparison to conventional techniques, which lack a defined structure and repeatability between scaffolds. Furthermore, 3D printing allows for the production of scaffolds with patient-specific dimensions using computer-aided design. The availability of commercially available 3D printed permanent implants is on the rise; however, there are yet to be any commercially available biodegradable/bioresorbable devices. This review will compare the main 3D printing techniques of: stereolithography; selective laser sintering; powder bed inkjet printing and extrusion printing; for the fabrication of biodegradable/bioresorbable bone tissue scaffolds; and, discuss their potential for dental applications, specifically augmentation of the alveolar ridge.

Photodegradable hydrogels for external manipulation of cellular microenvironments with real-time monitoring

A designed hydrogel whose stiffness could not only be controlled but also monitored in situ by fluorescence.

Agent-based modeling of porous scaffold degradation and vascularization: Optimal scaffold design based on architecture and degradation dynamics

A multi-layer agent-based model (ABM) of biomaterial scaffold vascularization is extended to consider the effects of scaffold degradation kinetics on blood vessel formation. A degradation model describing the bulk disintegration of porous hydrogels is incorporated into the ABM. The combined degradation-angiogenesis model is used to investigate growing blood vessel networks in the presence of a degradable scaffold structure. Simulation results indicate that higher porosity, larger mean pore size, and rapid degradation allow faster vascularization when not considering the structural support of the scaffold. However, premature loss of structural support results in failure for the material. A strategy using multi-layer scaffold with different degradation rates in each layer was investigated as a way to address this issue. Vascularization was improved with the multi-layered scaffold model compared to the single-layer model. The ABM developed provides insight into the characteristics that influence the selection of optimal geometric parameters and degradation behavior of scaffolds, and enables easy refinement of the model as new knowledge about the underlying biological phenomena becomes available.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

This paper proposes a multi-layer agent-based model (ABM) of biomaterial scaffold vascularization integrated with a structural-kinetic model describing bulk degradation of porous hydrogels to consider the effects of scaffold degradation kinetics on blood vessel formation. This enables the assessment of scaffold characteristics and in particular the disintegration characteristics of the scaffold on angiogenesis. Simulation results indicate that higher porosity, larger mean pore size, and rapid degradation allow faster vascularization when not considering the structural support of the scaffold. However, premature loss of structural support by scaffold disintegration results in failure of the material and disruption of angiogenesis. A strategy using multi-layer scaffold with different degradation rates in each layer was investigated as away to address this issue. Vascularization was improved with the multi-layered scaffold model compared to the single-layer model. The ABM developed provides insight into the characteristics that influence the selection of optimal geometric and degradation characteristics of tissue engineering scaffolds.

Design of thiol-ene photoclick hydrogels using facile techniques for cell culture applications†Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4bm00187gClick here for additional data file

Thiol-ene 'click' chemistries have been widely used in biomaterials applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and controlled cell culture, owing to their rapid, cytocompatible, and often orthogonal reactivity. In particular, hydrogel-based biomaterials formed by photoinitiated thiol-ene reactions afford spatiotemporal control over the biochemical and biomechanical properties of the network for creating synthetic materials that mimic the extracellular matrix or enable controlled drug release. However, the use of charged peptides functionalized with cysteines, which can form disulfides prior to reaction, and vinyl monomers that require multistep syntheses and contain ester bonds, may lead to undesired inhomogeneity or degradation under cell culture conditions. Here, we designed a thiol-ene hydrogel formed by the reaction of allyloxycarbonyl-functionalized peptides and thiol-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol). Hydrogels were polymerized by free radical initiation under cytocompatible doses of long wavelength ultraviolet light in the presence of water-soluble photoinitiators (lithium acylphosphinate, LAP, and 2-hydroxy-1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2-methyl-1-propanone, Irgacure 2959). Mechanical properties of these hydrogels were controlled by varying the monomer concentration to mimic a range of soft tissue environments, and hydrogel stability in cell culture medium was observed over weeks. Patterns of biochemical cues were created within the hydrogels post-formation and confirmed through the incorporation of fluorescently-labeled peptides and Ellman's assay to detect free thiols. Human mesenchymal stem cells remained viable after encapsulation and subsequent photopatterning, demonstrating the utility of the monomers and hydrogels for three-dimensional cell culture. This facile approach enables the formation and characterization of hydrogels with well-defined, spatially-specific properties and expands the suite of monomers available for three-dimensional cell culture and other biological applications.

Light-Mediated Thiol-Ene Polymerization in Miniemulsion: A Fast Route to Semicrystalline Polysulfide Nanoparticles

Historically, the synthesis of aqueous polymer dispersions has focused on radical chain-growth polymerization of low-cost acrylate or styrene emulsions. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of UV-initiated thiol-ene step-growth radical polymerization, departing from a nontransparent difunctional monomer miniemulsion based on ethylene glycol dithiol and diallyl adipate. Performed without solvent and at ambient conditions, the photopolymerization process is energy-effective, environmentally friendly, and ultrafast, leading to full monomer consumption in 2 s, upon irradiating a miniemulsion contained in a 1 mm thick quartz cell microreactor. The resultant linear poly(thioether ester) particles have an average diameter of 130 nm. After water evaporation, they yield a clear elastomeric film combining chemical resistance and high degree of crystallinity (55%).

3D biofabrication strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Over the past several decades, there has been an ever-increasing demand for organ transplants. However, there is a severe shortage of donor organs, and as a result of the increasing demand, the gap between supply and demand continues to widen. A potential solution to this problem is to grow or fabricate organs using biomaterial scaffolds and a person's own cells. Although the realization of this solution has been limited, the development of new biofabrication approaches has made it more realistic. This review provides an overview of natural and synthetic biomaterials that have been used for organ/tissue development. It then discusses past and current biofabrication techniques, with a brief explanation of the state of the art. Finally, the review highlights the need for combining vascularization strategies with current biofabrication techniques. Given the multitude of applications of biofabrication technologies, from organ/tissue development to drug discovery/screening to development of complex in vitro models of human diseases, these manufacturing technologies can have a significant impact on the future of medicine and health care.

Visible light cured thiol-vinyl hydrogels with tunable degradation for 3D cell culture

We report here a synthetically simple yet highly tunable and diverse visible light mediated thiol-vinyl gelation system for fabricating cell-instructive hydrogels. Gelation was achieved via a mixed-mode step-and-chain-growth photopolymerization using functionalized 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol) as backbone macromer, eosin-Y as photosensitizer, and di-thiol containing molecule as dual purpose co-initiator/cross-linker. N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) was used to accelerate gelation kinetics and to adjust the stiffness of the hydrogels. Visible light (wavelength: 400-700 nm) was used to initiate rapid gelation (gel points: ~20s) that reached completion within a few minutes. The major differences between current thiol-vinyl gelation and prior visible light mediated photopolymerization are that: (1) the co-initiator triethanolamine (TEA) used in the previous systems was replaced with multifunctional thiols and (2) mixed-mode polymerized gels contain less network heterogeneity. The gelation kinetics and gel properties at the same PEG macromer concentration could be tuned by changing the identity of vinyl groups and di-thiol cross-linkers, as well as concentration of cross-linker and NVP. Specifically, acrylate-modified PEG afforded the fastest gelation rate, followed by acrylamide and methacrylate-functionalized PEG. Increasing NVP concentration also accelerated gelation and led to a higher network cross-linking density. Further, increasing di-thiol peptide concentration in the gel formulation increased hydrogel swelling and decreased gel stiffness. Due to the formation of thiol-ether-ester bonds following thiol-acrylate reaction, the gels degraded hydrolytically following a pseudo first order degradation kinetics. Degradation rate was controlled by adjusting thiol or NVP content in the polymer precursor solution. The cytocompatibility and utility of this hydrogel system were evaluated using in situ encapsulation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Encapsulated hMSCs remained alive (>90%) throughout the duration of the study and the cells were differentiated down osteogenic lineage with varying degrees by controlling the rate and mode of gel degradation.

Designing degradable hydrogels for orthogonal control of cell microenvironments

Degradable and cell-compatible hydrogels can be designed to mimic the physical and biochemical characteristics of native extracellular matrices and provide tunability of degradation rates and related properties under physiological conditions. Hence, such hydrogels are finding widespread application in many bioengineering fields, including controlled bioactive molecule delivery, cell encapsulation for controlled three-dimensional culture, and tissue engineering. Cellular processes, such as adhesion, proliferation, spreading, migration, and differentiation, can be controlled within degradable, cell-compatible hydrogels with temporal tuning of biochemical or biophysical cues, such as growth factor presentation or hydrogel stiffness. However, thoughtful selection of hydrogel base materials, formation chemistries, and degradable moieties is necessary to achieve the appropriate level of property control and desired cellular response. In this review, hydrogel design considerations and materials for hydrogel preparation, ranging from natural polymers to synthetic polymers, are overviewed. Recent advances in chemical and physical methods to crosslink hydrogels are highlighted, as well as recent developments in controlling hydrogel degradation rates and modes of degradation. Special attention is given to spatial or temporal presentation of various biochemical and biophysical cues to modulate cell response in static (i.e., non-degradable) or dynamic (i.e., degradable) microenvironments. This review provides insight into the design of new cell-compatible, degradable hydrogels to understand and modulate cellular processes for various biomedical applications.

Modeling Controlled Photodegradation in Optically Thick Hydrogels

There is a growing interest in developing dynamically responsive hydrogels whose material properties are modulated by environmental cues, including with light. These photoresponsive hydrogels afford spatiotemporal control of material properties through an array of photoaddition and photodegradation reactions. For photoresponsive hydrogels to be utilized most effectively in a broad range of applications, the photoreaction behavior should be well understood, enabling the design of dynamic materials with uniform or anisostropic material properties. Here, a general statistical-kinetic model has been developed to describe controlled photodegradation in hydrogel polymer networks containing photolabile crosslinks. The heterogeneous reaction rates that necessarily accompany photochemical reactions were described by solving a system of partial differential equations that quantify the photoreaction kinetics in the material. The kinetics were coupled with statistical descriptions of network structure in chain polymerized hydrogels to model material property changes and mass loss that occur during the photodegradation process. Finally, the physical relevance of the model was demonstrated by comparing model predictions with experimental data of mass loss and material property changes in photodegradable, PEG-based hydrogels.

Responsive culture platform to examine the influence of microenvironmental geometry on cell function in 3D

We describe the development of a well-based cell culture platform that enables experimenters to control the geometry and connectivity of cellular microenvironments spatiotemporally. The base material is a hydrogel comprised of photolabile and enzyme-labile crosslinks and pendant cell adhesion sequences, enabling spatially-specific, in situ patterning with light and cell-dictated microenvironment remodeling through enzyme secretion. Arrays of culture wells of varying shape and size were patterned into the hydrogel surface using photolithography, where well depth was correlated with irradiation dose. The geometry of these devices can be subsequently modified through sequential patterning, while simultaneously monitoring changes in cell geometry and connectivity. Towards establishing the utility of these devices for dynamic evaluation of the influence of physical cues on tissue morphogenesis, the effect of well shape on lung epithelial cell differentiation (i.e., primary mouse alveolar type II cells, ATII cells) was assessed. Shapes inspired by alveoli were degraded into hydrogel surfaces. ATII cells were seeded within the well-based arrays and encapsulated by the addition of a top hydrogel layer. Cell differentiation in response to these geometries was characterized over 7 days of culture with immunocytochemistry (surfactant protein C, ATII; T1α protein, alveolar type I (ATI) differentiated epithelial cells) and confocal image analysis. Individual cell clusters were further connected by eroding channels between wells during culture via controlled two-photon irradiation. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the development and utility of responsive hydrogel culture devices to study how a range of microenvironment geometries of evolving shape and connectivity might influence or direct cell function.

Cross-linking and degradation of step-growth hydrogels formed by thiol-ene photoclick chemistry

Thiol-ene photoclick hydrogels have been used for a variety of tissue engineering and controlled release applications. In this step-growth photopolymerization scheme, four-arm poly(ethylene glycol) norbornene (PEG4NB) was cross-linked with dithiol containing cross-linkers to form chemically cross-linked hydrogels. While the mechanism of thiol-ene gelation was well described in the literature, its network ideality and degradation behaviors are not well-characterized. Here, we compared the network cross-linking of thiol-ene hydrogels to Michael-type addition hydrogels and found thiol-ene hydrogels formed with faster gel points and higher degree of cross-linking. However, thiol-ene hydrogels still contained significant network nonideality, demonstrated by a high dependency of hydrogel swelling on macromer contents. In addition, the presence of ester bonds within the PEG-norbornene macromer rendered thiol-ene hydrogels hydrolytically degradable. Through validating model predictions with experimental results, we found that the hydrolytic degradation of thiol-ene hydrogels was not only governed by ester bond hydrolysis, but also affected by the degree of network cross-linking. In an attempt to manipulate network cross-linking and degradation of thiol-ene hydrogels, we incorporated peptide cross-linkers with different sequences and characterized the hydrolytic degradation of these PEG-peptide hydrogels. In addition, we incorporated a chymotrypsin-sensitive peptide as part of the cross-linkers to tune the mode of gel degradation from bulk degradation to surface erosion.

Elastomeric degradable biomaterials by photopolymerization-based CAD-CAM for vascular tissue engineering

A predominant portion of mortalities in industrial countries can be attributed to diseases of the cardiovascular system. In the last decades great efforts have been undertaken to develop materials for artificial vascular constructs. However, bio-inert materials like ePTFE or PET fail as material for narrow blood vessel replacements (coronary bypasses). Therefore, we aim to design new biocompatible materials to overcome this. In this paper we investigate the use of photoelastomers for artificial vascular constructs since they may be precisely structured by means of additive manufacturing technologies. Hence, 3D computer aided design and manufacturing technologies (CAD-CAM) offer the possibility of creating cellular structures within the grafts that might favour ingrowth of tissue. Different monomer formulations were screened concerning their suitability for this application but all had drawbacks, especially concerning the suture tear resistance. Therefore, we chose to modify the original network architecture by including dithiol chain transfer agents which effectively co-react with the acrylates and reduce crosslink density. A commercial urethane diacrylate was chosen as base monomer. In combination with reactive diluents and dithiols, the properties of the photopolymers could be tailored and degradability could be introduced. The optimized photoelastomers were in good mechanical accordance with native blood vessels, showed good biocompatibility in in vitro tests, degraded similar to poly(lactic acid) and were successfully manufactured with the 3D CAD-CAM technology.

In situ photopolymerization of biomaterials by thiol-yne click chemistry

The thiol-yne click chemistry reaction has been used for the in situ photocrosslinking of an aliphatic hyperbranched polyester. The biocompatibility of the resulting networks has been studied and marked cytotoxicity was not found for HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) tumoral cells and COS7 fibroblasts. The photoinduced thiol-yne process allows the generation of patterned structures with different geometries in films by DLW and these materials can be used as substrates for cell adhesion. The influence of the substrate geometry on cell adhesion has been studied by culturing cells onto these substrates and a preference for the photopatterned polymeric material can be seen in some of the structures by contrast phase microscopy. Actin and vinculin fluorescent staining revealed different adhesion behavior for HeLa cells and COS7 fibroblasts and this could be assigned to the different motility of cells. The thiol-yne photoreaction has proven to be an attractive approach for the preparation of micropatterned biomaterials.

End Group Reactions of RAFT-Prepared (Co)Polymers

This review highlights the chemistry of thiocarbonylthio groups with an emphasis on chemistry conducted at ω or α and ω chain-ends in copolymers prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization. We begin by giving a general overview of reactions associated with the thiocarbonylthio groups, followed by examples associated with macromolecular thiols.

Peptide-Functionalized Click Hydrogels with Independently Tunable Mechanics and Chemical Functionality for 3D Cell Culture

Multifunctionalized macromers react via a copper-free click chemistry to form an idealized 3D hydrogel. Subsequently, thiol-containing biomolecules are spatially patterned within the material with precise control over the amount and location of functionalization. Both the network formation and subsequent patterning reactions are fully cytocompatible, allowing these systems to be used to study individual cell behavior at user-defined locations throughout the material.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-based thiol-ene hydrogel coatings-curing chemistry, aqueous stability, and potential marine antifouling applications

Photocured thiol-ene hydrogel coatings based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were investigated for marine antifouling purposes. By varying the PEG length, vinylic end-group, and thiol cross-linker, a library of hydrogel coatings with different structural composition was efficiently accomplished, with or without ester linkages. The thiol-methacrylate and thiol-allyl systems were evaluated with respect to curing, degradation, as well as antifouling properties. Methacrylate-based systems exhibited homopolymerization, whereas allyl-based systems reacted more selectively through thiol-ene couplings reaction. The ester-free hydrogels elucidated higher hydrolytic stability whereas longer PEG chains accelerated the degradation process. The antifouling properties were evaluated by protein adsorption with Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bioassays with the marine bacteria, Cobetia marina, and the marine diatom, Amphora coffeaeformis; in all tests, longer PEG lengths improved the antifouling properties.