| abstract |
Microporous gel systems for certain applications, including biomedical applications, include an aqueous solution containing a plurality of microgel particles comprising a biodegradable cross-linking agent. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to each other to form a covalently stabilized scaffold of microgel particles with interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is either endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, the presence of an initiator, such as exposure to light, is required to anneal the microgel particles. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are capable of rapidly infiltrating the interstitial space of the scaffolds thus assembled. |