Synthesis and analysis of degradation, mechanical and toxicity properties of poly(β-amino ester) degradable hydrogels

Biodegradable hydrogels have been studied extensively in recent years for biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and drug delivery, due to their tunable properties and similarities to natural soft tissue. In this work, two poly(β-amino ester) biodegradable hydrogel systems were synthesised and studied in vitro. Different degradation profiles were observed, ranging from 7 h to 4 months, and the compressive modulus was shown to decrease as degradation proceeded. MTT cytotoxicity analysis was used to analyze the cellular response to the degradation products, and the hydrogel systems exhibited similar toxicity to poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) degradation products. Finally, cell attachment was studied by seeding pluripotent mesenchymal cells directly onto the hydrogel surfaces followed by a live/dead assay and fluorescent imaging. Cells showed significant viability at 24h (98%) and slightly lower, but still substantial viability, at 48 h (72%). These hydrogels exhibited a range of properties and favorable cellular responses, all which indicate that these materials could be viable materials for tissue regeneration and other biomedical applications.