Hydrogels for encapsulation of mammalian cells

In our attempt to prepare new hydrogels for cell encapsulation, we decided to use synthetic copolymers presuming that chemical bonds should bring bett er mechanical stability of capsules than electrostatic forces between polya nions and polycations in the so far predominantly used materials based on p olyelectrolyte complexes. Two series of copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methac rylate (HEMA) with alkyl acrylates (methacrylates) or N-alkylacrylamides (m ethacrylamides) were prepared. The copolymers, prepared by Solution copolym erization in ethanol, were characterized by swelling in water and PBS solut ion, viscometric molecular weight, and NMR analysis, and their encapsulatio n processability was tested. Their characteristics and the first biological tests are the subject of this paper.