Cryo-copolymerization preparation of dextran-hyaluronate based supermacroporous cryogel scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Dextran-hyaluronate （Dex-HA） based supermacroporous cryogel scaffolds for soft tissue engineering were prepared by free radical cryo-copolymerization of aqueous solutions containing the dextran methacrylate （Dex-MA） and hyaluronate methacrylate （HA-MA） at various macromonomer concentrations under the freezing condition. It was observed that the suitable total concen- tration of macromonomers for the preparation of Dex-HA cryogel scaffold with satisfied properties was 5% （w/w） at the HA-MA concentration of 1% （w/v）, which was then used to produce the test scaffold. The obtained cryogel scaffold with 5% （w/w） macromonomer solution had high water permeability （5.1 × 10 ^-2m2） and high porosity （92.4%）. The pore diameter examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） was in a broad range of 50-135 um with the mean pore diameter of 91 um. Furthermore, the cryogel scaffold also had good elastic nature with the elastic modulus of 17.47±1.44 kPa. The culture of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte within the scaffold was investigated and observed by SEM. Cells clustered on the pore walls and grew inside the scaffold indicating the Dex-HA cryogel scaffold could be a promising porous biomaterial for applications in tissue engineering.