Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Oligo [Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Fumarate] Gels With Photo-Sensitive Pendent Groups, Andrew Chung

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are 3D polymeric structures that offer attractive qualities within the biomedical field due to their excellent biocompatibility and tunability to be employed in drug release, wound healing, and implants. Aliphatic polyesters are biodegradable polymers that naturally degrade by the process of simple ester hydrolysis. Oligo[poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate] (OPF) is a linear polyester containing repeating units of poly(ethylene glycol) and unsaturated fumarate. OPF naturally degrades through hydrolytic cleavage into poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and fumaric acid which is a naturally occurring compound found in the Kreb’s cycle. However, in some cases, it would be beneficial to activate or accelerate this …