PEG hydrogel degradation and the role of the surrounding tissue environment

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels are extensively used in a variety of biomedical applications, due to ease of synthesis and tissue-like properties. Recently there have been varied reports regarding PEG hydrogel's degradation kinetics and in vivo host response. In particular, these studies suggest that the surrounding tissue environment could play a critical role in defining the inflammatory response and degradation kinetics of PEG implants. In the present study we demonstrated a potential mechanism of PEG hydrogel degradation, and in addition we show potential evidence of the role of the surrounding tissue environment on producing variable inflammatory responses. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.