Bioconjugation of RGD peptides on injectable PEGDMA for enhancing biocompatibility

Abstract: A cerebral aneurysm is a weakened area of an artery in the brain, creating an abnormal expansion. Recent research for treatment is utilizing a photopolymerizable hydrogel as a possible operation for injection in situ. This paper aimed to achieve bioconjugation of peptides on a PEGDMA polymer network (using the photoinitiator PEG-BAPO) to form a biocompatible photopolymerizable hydrogel, without compromise to any of its mechanical attributes. Achieving cell adhesion to the hydrogel surface is a critical requirement as that could drive the growth of endothelium between aneurysm and artery, to considerably enhance its sustainability and decrease the risk of inflammation. The hydrogel was synthesized by functionalizing RGD with a PEG-spacer and co-polymerize it with PEGDMA using UV-radiation to create an intertwined cross-linking network. Samples of various peptide concentrations were studied in cell culture to analyze cell adhesion, followed by mechanical tests to identify possible deviations. A subsequent study was established to create a dynamic prototype as a quantifiable replication of a hydrogel inside an aneurysm in vivo. The model was designed in SolidWorks and connected with an Ibidi sticky-Slide to roughly replicate a cerebral aneurysm connected to an artery with space to introduce a hydrogel sample.