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A mathematical model is described for surface-initiated photopolymerization of PEG-DA forming crosslinked biofunctional PEG hydrogel membranes based on the NF technique. The model includes an additional monomer with biological functionality, which is a common experimental strategy for the design of ECM mimics in tissue engineering in order to direct signaling pathways, and considers concentration-dependent VP propagation and reaction diffusion termination. The influence of these features on the crosslink density of the soluble and gel phases, the progression through gelation, sol/gel fraction, and molecular weight distribution of biofunctional PEG hydrogel are studied using the NF model. This model may be useful for specific applications of tissue engineering.

A mathematical model has been developed for surface-initiated photopolymerization of PEGDA forming cross-linked hydrogel membranes on the surface of a substrate. The existing model was extended to apply the NF technique, which made it possible to describe the progression of photopolymerization through gelation, and to calculate gelation time, crosslink density of the gel and soluble phases. The model provides a tool for understanding and studying the kinetics of interfacial photopolymerization reactions, which are important in processes such as cell encapsulation by hydrogel membranes formed through free radical photopolymerization. It will also be useful for applications in tissue engineering, where protein gradients are required for optimizing engineered tissue formation.

A mathematical model for the crosslinking copolymerization of a vinyl and divinyl monomer was developed and applied to the case of methyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate batch polymerization. Model results compare favorably to the experimental findings of Li and Hamielec [23] for the system investigated. The model presented utilizes the numerical fractionation technique [15] and is capable of predicting a broad range of distributional properties both for pre- and post-gel operating conditions as well as polymer properties that were not experimentally determined from the experimental findings of Li and Hamielec, such as crosslink density and branching frequency. The effects of divinyl monomer fraction and chain transfer agent level on the polymer properties and the dynamics of gelation were also investigated.