Thermoresponsive macroporous scaffolds prepared by emulsion templating.

A versatile method to prepare non-covalently crosslinked polyHIPEs hydrogels from oil-in-water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) whose aqueous phase contained thermo-responsive linear polymers is described. The interconnected pore structure of the polyHIPEs is maintained by reversible physical aggregation of thermo-responsive polymer chains in an aqueous environment. This method to prepare interconnected porous hydrogels using a thermal trigger in the guise of thermo-responsive polymers by emulsion templating requires no chemical reaction during solidification of the template. This particular feature could provide a safer route to injectable scaffolds as issues of polymerisation/crosslinking chemistry and residual initiator fragments or monomers do not arise.