Development of Biomedical Hydrogels: A Two-Step Approach to Thiol-Ene Clickable PEG-Based Polyester Copolymers

Hydrogels, crosslinked polymeric networks, are crucial in biomedical applications like drug delivery, sensor technology, and tissue engineering. A well-defined poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized polyester copolymer with high olefinic content was synthesized through ring-opening copolymerization of maleic anhydride, propylene oxide, and PEG-functionalized epoxides. This copolymer enables crosslinking via Michael-type thiol-ene reaction with thiol-modified monomers. Characterization via GPC and 1H NMR revealed the copolymer's branched structure, molecular weight, and olefinic content. Its lower critical solution temperature, near body temperature, facilitates rapid thermal gelation at 37°C. SEM analysis confirmed network formation with a porous structure.This hybrid hydrogel system holds great potential as a novel biomaterial for tissue engineering applications.