Mechanical Diversity of Porous Poly (Ethylene ...

This study investigates the effects of polymer chain length on the mechanical properties of gas foamed poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). Gas foamed structures were composed of PEGDA MW 700, MW 3400, or MW 10k. Combinations of short (lower MW) and long PEGDA (higher MW) chains created polymer structures with increased strength and stiffness compared to structures composed of a given longer PEGDA chain. Gas foamed PEGDA hydrogels are structurally and mechanically suitable for evaluating cells in 3D culture. SEM images show an interconnected pore structure. Gas foamed PEGDA is also cytocompatible. High cell viability was observed on collagen type I infused polymer structures. Changes in PEGDA chain sizes neither degraded cell viability nor impeded gas foaming. The mechanical tunability of gas foamed porous PEGDA makes it an effective tool for evaluating cellular response to static mechanical properties in 3D.