Authors: Kari B Haxhinasto Anthony E English Alan B Moy
Publish Date: 2007/10/18
Volume: 19, Issue: 5, Pages: 1999-2008
Abstract
Using equilibrium swelling and nonequilibrium membrane potential measurements this study assesses the charge density in two representative series of polyelectrolyte hydrogels and examines the morphological and proliferative responses of endothelial cells as a function of the prepared charge offset The neutral monomers 2hydroxyethylmethacrylate HEMA and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate n = 1000 PEGDMA were copolymerized with either the acidic monomer 2sulfoethyl methacrylate SEMA or the basic monomer methacryloxy ethyltrimethylammonium chloride MAETAC to make membranes with pregelation charge offset concentrations varying from 0 to ±200 mM A thermodynamic analysis of swelling and membrane potential measurements quantified the hydrogel charge density state following equilibration at different ion strengths Porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were seeded on samples of each HEMA and PEGDMA copolymer and the amount of cell coverage was measured over a 4day period Cellular attachment and proliferation increased with increasing proportions of charged monomers and showed a threshold pattern of attachment and growth on the positively charged HEMA–MAETAC copolymer hydrogels with increasing proportions of initially prepared charge The series of PEGDMA copolymer hydrogels remained relatively resistant to cellular attachment and proliferation over the range of prepared charges considered in this study
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