Microwave-assisted synthesis and click chemistry as simple and efficient strategy for RGD functionalized hydrogels

Click chemistry reactions have recently attracted significant attention for several applications in biomaterials science. In addition microwave irradiation of aqueous solutions containing appropriate combinations of polymers is gaining increasing interests in the synthesis of sterile hydrogels without using monomers, eliminating so the need for removal of unreacted species. The combination of these two approaches promises to be a simple and efficient strategy to produce RGD functionalized hydrogels with a high degree of functionalization and appropriate physico-chemical properties. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.