Novel hydrogels as supports for in vitro cell growth:: poly(ethylene glycol)- and gelatine-based (meth)acrylamidopeptide macromonomers

Conversion of amine groups with vinyl-functional azlactones occurs at room temperature under physiological conditions to afford (meth)acrylamidopeptide-functional macromonomers. Such macromonomers based upon alpha,omega-bisaminopropyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) and gelatine were prepared and copolymerized to produce novel hydrogel networks. Compression modulus was inversely proportional to the water content (EWC), which was controlled primarily by the PEG macromonomers with non-modified gelatine, the covalent attachment of gelatine to the hydrogel network gave substantially improved performance with respect to both, adhesion and growth of human fibroplasts. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.