Journal
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
Volume 88A, Issue 4, Pages 1031-1036Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.31906
Keywords
supramolecule; self-assembly; hydrogel; triblock copolymer; cyclodextrin; poly(ethylene oxide); poly(propylene oxide)
Funding
- National University of Singapore [R-397-000-019-112]
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
- A*STAR, Singapore [IMRE/06-180529]
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This article reports a detailed study on the hydrogel formation of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers with alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) in aqueous solutions. The gelation kinetics and the gel rheological properties were studied using viscometry. The sol-gel phase transitions were studied using phase diagrams, while the gelation mechanism was studied using differential scanning calorimetric analysis. It was concluded that the gelation was induced by the complex formation between the PEO segments of the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer and alpha-CD, and the further self-assembly of the partially formed inclusion complexes. The addition of alpha-CD largely reduced the concentration of the copolymer needed for get formation. The gels were thixotropic and reversible, and potentially suitable for use as an injectable drug-delivery system. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 88A: 1031-1036, 2009
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