Novel supermacroporous dextran gels

Summary, in English

Supermacroporous dextran gels (SDGs), having pores tens of micrometers in size and highly interconnected, were prepared from dextran macromonomer through radical polymerization at subzero temperatures and compared with dextran gels prepared at ambient temperature. Dextran macromonomer was synthesized via glycidyl methacrylate derivatization of dextran T500 in DMSO medium. The derivatization of dextran was confirmed by H-1-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed macropores up to 100 mu m in size. SDGs can be dried and re-swollen within seconds retaining their porous structure. The large size of interconnected pores, fast swelling and biocompatibility of dextran make SDGs promising material for tissue engineering and cell culture.