I'm trying to develop a hydrogel which can release proteins at a controlled rate.

I'm currently using 4 arm PEG maleimide (10 & 20 kDa) and 2 kDa PEG dithiol has the crosslinker via micheal type addition reaction.

According to Zustiak and Leach (2010) Biomacromolecules, 11, 1348-1357 - the Mw of a crosslinker is related to the degredation of the hydrogel. they have results showing hydrogels crosslinked with 8 kDa crosslinker  degraded faster then 2 kDa crosslinker.

So am i right to assume if i use 1kDa PEG dithiol the PEG Malemidie will be more stable?

Has anyone used other crosslinkers apart from PEG Dithiol?

Thanks.

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