Amplified photodegradation of hydrogels and methods of producing the same

1. An allyl sulfide crosslinked hydrogel polymer network swollen in an aqueous media, wherein at least one live cell is encapsulated in the network, prepared by a process comprising the steps of:

a) providing,

i) a plurality of tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules in aqueous solution,

ii) a plurality of allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules in aqueous solution, and

iii) at least one live cell, and

b) mixing said tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules in aqueous solution, said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules in aqueous solution, and at least one live cell under conditions such that a hydrogel network is produced.

2. The hydrogel network of claim 1 , wherein said network comprises an allyl sulfide crosslinked strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition hydrogel network.

3. The hydrogel network of claim 2 , wherein said hydrogel network produced by a reaction between a plurality of tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules and a plurality of allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules.

4. The hydrogel network of claim 2 , wherein said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) comprises allyl sulfide bis-(PEG 3 -azide).

5. The hydrogel network of claim 2 , wherein said hydrogel network comprises a wound dressing.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said cells are human cells.

7. An allyl sulfide crosslinked strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition hydrogel polymer network swollen in an aqueous media, wherein at least one live cell encapsulated in the network and wherein said hydrogel network is in contact with a photoinitiator, prepared by a process comprising the steps of:

a) providing,

i) a plurality of tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules in aqueous solution,

ii) a plurality of allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules in aqueous solution,

iii) at least one live cell, and

iv) a photoinitiator,

b) mixing said tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules in aqueous solution, said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules in aqueous solution, photoinitiator, and at least one live cell under conditions such that a hydrogel network is produced.

8. The hydrogel network of claim 7 , wherein said photoinitiator is in solution and at least part of said network is submerged in said solution.

9. The hydrogel network of claim 7 , wherein said photoinitiator further comprises a free monothiol.

10. The hydrogel network of claim 9 , wherein said free monothiol comprises mPEG-SH.

11. The hydrogel network of claim 7 , wherein said hydrogel network comprises a network reaction between a plurality of tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules and a plurality of allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules.

12. The hydrogel network of claim 7 , wherein said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) comprises allyl sulfide bis-(PEG 3 -azide).

13. The hydrogel network of claim 7 , wherein said photoinitiator comprises lithium phenyl-2,4,6-tri-methylbenzoylphosphinate.

14. A method of producing an allyl sulfide crosslinked strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) hydrogel network, comprising:

a) providing,

i) a plurality of tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules,

ii) a plurality of allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-N 3 ) molecules, and

b) mixing said tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules and said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) molecules under conditions such that a hydrogel network is produced.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) comprises allyl sulfide bis-(PEG 3 -azide).

16. A method comprising the steps of:

a) providing,

i) a plurality of tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules in aqueous solution,

ii) a plurality of allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules in aqueous solution,

iii) at least one live cell, and

iv) a photoinitiator,

b) mixing said tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) dibenzocyclooctyne molecules in aqueous solution, said allyl sulfide poly(ethylene glycol) azide molecules in aqueous solution, at least one live cell, and photoinitiator under conditions such that a hydrogel network is produced.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein mixing said photoinitiator comprises immersing said hydrogel network in an aqueous solution of photoinitiator.