Rational hydrogel design to improve brain modulus matching for implantation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Treating the brain is challenging due to the restrictive blood-brain barrier, and modulus-mismatched implants often cause problems. Herein, we have fabricated copolymer hydrogels from thermoresponsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), hydrophilic polymer, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), which are injectable and transform into soft implants above their lower critical solution temperature (LCST). PAA concentration can be leveraged to tune the LCST and viscosity of the PNIPAAm–r–PAA hydrogel in solution. Furthermore, the Young’s moduli of these materials, ranging from 1-4 kPa, are close to rat and human brain tissue, potentially leading to less inflammation and rejection due to significant modulus mismatch.
Source: Materials Letters
Institution: Clemson University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,870
Awards: Uncovering Fundamental Transport Principles in Novel, Ultraclean Lignin-Based Hydrogels for Bioseparations, G1386556497, G5871464901, South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE), CAREER: Diagnosing the Undiagnosable: Using Enzyme Upregulation to Probe Cellular Behavior in Neuropathic Lysosomal Storage Disease
OpenAlex ID: W4407172274