• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2016

Hydrogels are crosslinked hydrophilic matrices for a variety of biomedical applications. Silk fibroin (SF), one of typical natural biomaterials, has been explored as base material for hydrogel. Photocrosslinked SF hydrogel containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was formulated through visible light initiated thiol-acrylate photopolymerization. The morphological, structural and thermal properties of SF - PEG hydrogel was investigated through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology of SF hydrogel showed dot and uneven surface with network cross-section. X-ray diffraction curves showed that the specific diffraction peaks of PEG were not changed by the intensity of the peaks were affected by sonication. Thermo-degradation behavior of SF - PEG hydrogel sonicated was significantly affected and became complex pattern compared to unsonicated ones. However, the melting endothermic temperature of SF - PEG hydrogel was not changed but the crystalline enthalpy was decreased by gelation and sonication.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.613-616
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• 2005

In this word as the first step to develop optical biosensors for a single cell level analysis, the preparation method of nano-scale polymer hydrogel spheres containing an enzyme was set up and the feasibility of the spheres as optical biosensors was investigated. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was encapsulated in the PEG hydrogel spheres by suspension photopolymerization, yielding spheres of the average size of 305 nm. After the polymerization, the incorporation and activity of HRP within the spheres were determined by the production of fluorescence resulted from the enzymatic reaction between HRP and $\H_{2}O_{2}$. The fluorescence emission response of the HRP-loaded PEG hydrogel spheres increased by nearly 300$\%$ as hydrogen peroxide concentration was changed from 0 to 11 nM in the presence of Amplex Red. The results suggest that the method to prepare the PEG hydrogel nanospheres containing an enzyme could be used for developing optical biosensors to measure various analytes in the very small samples like a single cell.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 1996

Acrylate-terminated poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromer was prepared by the reaction of PEG with acryloyl chloride. Photopolymerization of PEG macromer resulted in the formation of cross-linked PEG network. Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on PEG and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was obtained via template polymerization of AA to the PEG network by UV curing. The swelling degree of the IPNs hydrogel increased with an increase of pH value due to the association-dissociation between carboxylic acid of PAA and either of PEG through hydrogen bounding. The swelling-deswelling behavior proceeded reversibly for the IPNs upon changing pH. Release of indomethacin from the IPNs demonstrated "on-off" regulation with pH fluctuation.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.527-532
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• 2007

Polymer hydrogel has attracted considerable interest as a soft material which is finding expanding applications in pharmaceutics and various biomedical fields. In this work, modified PNVP hydrogels were synthesized by crosslinking polymerization of NVP monomer in the presence of PEG macromer with a methoxy end. The effect of the tethered PEG chain on the properties of the hydrogel was investigated in terms of its swelling capacity, compression gel strength, and the morphology of the resulting hydrogels. These PEG-modified PNVP hydrogels possessed good biocompatibility and a decreased protein (fibrinogen) adsorption, thereby indicating their potential as novel drug delivery matrices and scaffold for tissue engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2022

Carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(ethylene glycol) (CMC/PEG) hydrogels crosslinked with citric acid (CA) are synthesized to evaluate the effect of CMC molecular weight (Mw), PEG and CA concentration on the optical property, swelling rate (SR), degradation rate (DR), and cytotoxicity and cell proliferation of hydrogels. For crosslinked CMC/PEG hydrogels, the FT-IR peak intensity associated with hydroxyl groups decreases due to PEG intercalation (esterification crosslinking) between CMC chains in a similar manner as the concentration of CA crosslinker increases. Crosslinked CMC (Mw = 90,000)/PEG hydrogels with 10 % CA dissolve regardless of PEG content. However, the SR of the CMC (Mw = 250,000)/PEG hydrogels decrease from 4923 % to 168 % with increasing PEG and CA concentrations from 0 to 20 % and from 0 to 25 %, respectively. As the Mw of CMC increases, the DR of the hydrogel is greatly improved. CMC (Mw = 250,000)/PEG10 hydrogels with 10 % CA exhibit the optimum properties of high absorbing capacity (3,200 %) with moderate DR (54 %), stiffness (1.39 ± 0.19 GPa), and cell viability (94.8 ± 1.3 %). CA-crosslinked CMC/PEG hydrogels are highly suitable for wound dressing or personal care applications due to their non-toxicity, good cell proliferation, SR, and mechanical properties.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 2015

A self-oscillating interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PAA/PEG) hydrogel was prepared by using radical polymerization with a two-step method. The IPN hydrogel was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and morphological analysis. The results indicated that the chains of PEG and PAA twined to form porous structure which is beneficial to water molecules entering inside of the hydrogel. In addition, the pH-responsive behavior, salt sensitivity, swelling/de-swelling oscillatory behaviors and self-oscillation in a closed pH oscillator were also studied. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel exhibited pH-sensitivity, good swelling/de-swelling reversibility and excellent salt sensitivity. The self-oscillating behavior of swelling/de-swelling for the prepared hydrogel was caused by pH alteration coupled with the external media. This study may create a new possibility as biomaterial including new self-walking actuators and other related devices.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1826-1832
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• 2007

We describe the fabrication of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) hydrogel microstructures with a high aspect ratio and the use of hydrogel microstructures containing the enzyme ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-Gal) or glucose oxidase (GOx)/horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as biosensing components for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes. The diameters of the hydrogel microstructures were almost the same at the top and at the bottom, indicating that no differential curing occurred through the thickness of the hydrogel microstructure. Using the hydrogel microstructures as microreactors, ${\beta}$-Gal or GOx/HRP was trapped in the hydrogel array, and the time-dependent fluorescence intensities of the hydrogel array were investigated to determine the dynamic uptake of substrates into the PEG-DA hydrogel. The time required to reach steady-state fluorescence by glucose diffusing into the hydrogel and its enzymatic reactions with GOx and HRP was half the time required for resorufin ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (RGB) when used as the substrate for ${\beta}$-Gal. Spatially addressed hydrogel microarrays containing different enzymes were micropatterned for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes, and glucose and RGB solutions were incubated as substrates. These results indicate that there was no cross-talk between the ${\beta}$-Gal-immobilizing hydrogel micropatches and the GOx/HRP-immobilizing micropatches.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.437-446
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• 2014

Problems appear when triptans are taken orally. For example, the bioavailability of triptan is reduced by the digestive system, and the drug level in the blood reduces rapidly over time; there is also a possibility of gastrointestinal disorder. To improve side effects, a transdermal patch has been prepared in hydrogel form. The polymer matrix that makes up the hydrogel uses PVA; PEG is used as an additive to induce inter/intra hydrogen bonding of the PVA and almotriptan drug is added. In addition, to accelerate micro-phase separation between PVA chains, liquid nitrogen is used. In FT-IR analysis, the absorption bands of PVA, PEG, and almotriptan were found. The degree of crystallinity, the water uptake ability and tensile strength were increased with increasing PEG content. In drug release tests, the amount of drug released increased depending on the PEG content. In this study, hydrogels with 10 wt% PEG showed better performance in drug release. Approximately 60% of the total drug amount was released in 2 hr, and the drug continued to release for 1 day. Thus, the prepared hydrogel patch is suitable as a transdermal formulation for the second dose administration of triptans to patients who require recurrent migraine treatment within 24 hr after the first administration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-21
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• 1995

Poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) macrocers teminated with acrylate groups and semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) composed of poly-.epsilon.-capolactone(PCL) and PEG macromer were syntheswized with the aim of obtaining a bioerodible hydrogel that could be used to release drugs for implantable delivery system. Polymerization of PEG macromer resulted in the formation of cross-linked gels due to the multifunctionality of macromer. Non-crosslinked PCL chains were interpenetrated into the cross-linked three-dimensions networks of PEG. The IPNs, largw drug loading lower concentration of PEG macromer in the IPNs concentration and the higher molecular weight of PEG macromer. Also, 5-FU was more fast released than hydrocortisone to the increased water solubility.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2011

Silver nano-particles (AgNPs) have attracted much attention for centuries due to their unique optical properties, electrical conductivities, oxidative catalysis, and antibacterial effect. In this study, AgNPs have been prepared by using aqueous $AgNO_3$ solution in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels. PVA and PEG powders were dissolved in deionized water, and then irradiated by a gamma-ray with a radiation dose of 50 kGy to make hydrogels. PVA/PEG hydrogels were dipped into $1.0{\times}10^{-2}M$ $AgNO_3$ solution for 1 hour. After that, the swollen hydrogels were irradiated by gamma-ray for the formation of AgNPs. FE-SEM is used to observe the formation of AgNPs as a function of the content of PEG and the irradiation dose. Also, AgNPs in the PVA/PEG hydrogels were monitored by UV-Vis. It is observed that the content of PEG and gamma-ray irradiation in the hydrogel is crucial to the formation of AgNPs. Finally, antibacterial tests indiacted that the hydrogel containing silver nanoparticle has antibacterial activity.