BEH.462/3. 962J Molecular Principles of Biomaterials Spring 2003 Key properties of hydrogels for bioengineering applications: example: rintableggels printing heads provide470°C dispensing Temperature-controlled stage (Irvine lab) ON BOARD gra Gel with degradable cross links or network chains Eliminable/metabolizable Basis of sensors and 'smart materials (to be covered later) Lecture 7-Hydrogels 1 3of15BEH.462/3.962J Molecular Principles of Biomaterials Spring 2003 Key properties of hydrogels for bioengineering applications: example: ÔprintableÕgels ∆T Chilled/heated (Landers et al. 2002) printing heads provide 4-70°C dispensing Temperature-controlled stage (Irvine lab) • Degradability ON BOARD: Degradability ¥Hydrolysis ¥Enzymatic attack Gel with degradable cross- Eliminible/metabolizable links or network chains Water-soluble fragments • Responsive swelling ƒ Temperature-, pH-, and molecule-responsive swelling ƒ Basis of sensors and ‘smart’ materials ƒ (to be covered later) Lecture 7 – Hydrogels 1 3 of 15