Dresden 2011 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 9: Poster: Biopolymers and Biomaterials
CPP 9.5: Poster
Montag, 14. März 2011, 17:30–19:30, P2
Star-PEG-Heparin-Polyelectrolyte-Hydrogels - Experiment, Theory, and Simulation — •Ron Dockhorn1,2, Jens-Uwe Sommer1,2, Uwe Freudenberg1, Petra B. Welzel1, Kandice Levental1, and Carsten Werner1 — 1Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, D-01069 Dresden, Germany — 2Technische Universität Dresden, Institute for Theoretical Physics, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
We are studying a new class of biohybrid networks made of heparin, a rod-like highly charged glycosaminoglycan, and non-charged, elastic 4-star-shaped-polyethylene glycol by using experiment, theory, and simulation. We focus on the network structure by simulations and determine the defects, the functionality of heparin, and percolation threshold of the gels. Also, we develop a mean-field type model to understand the combined effects of counterions and a good solvent on the swelling properties of the gels. It has been shown that this interplay lead to nearly constant heparin concentration in the swollen gel under physiological conditions, independent of the mole-fraction at preparation while allowing large variations of the degree of swelling and storage modulus. Furthermore, we are able to predict the degree of swelling and heparin level for different molar masses of the building blocks allowing a rational design of the hydrogels. This opens the possibility to synthesize gels which allow a constant release of heparin-binding signaling molecules while independently controlling the mechanical properties to optimize matrices with both mechanical and biomolecular cues for cell replacement-based therapies.