Natural polysaccharide hydrogels, such as those formed from hyaluronic acid, provide unique rheological, lubrication, and water absorption/desorption properties for a variety of processes in the body, and have been used for a wide range of pharmaceutical and personal care applications. Glycopolymers are synthetic polymers with a stable C-C backbone and hydrophilic pendant saccharides. Acrylamide-based glycomonomers with β-D-glucose and β-D-galactose pendant groups were synthesized with structure and stereochemistry identical to those found in natural polysaccharides. Glycopolymer-silicone hydrogels were prepared via UV initiated free-radical polymerization with systematic variation of hydrophobic/hydrophilic content and cross-linking agent. Water within hydrogel networks plays a pivotal role in dictating network properties such as mechanical stability, permeability, and network architecture. Diffusion of water within the networks, nanomechanical properties, and rheological properties are determined by the hydrogel structure. Specific peptide interactions are related to the stereochemistry of the pendant saccharide groups.

Bio-inspired glycopolymer hydrogels for biomedical applications

255th National Meeting (2018)

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