ABSTRACT

Recently, a new technique has evolved for synthesizing cell scaffolds known as cryogelation, which can synthesize polymeric scaffolds at subzero temperature through physical or chemical gelation of polymers or polymerization of their respective monomers (Lozinsky et al., 2001, 2003). Cryogels are a kind of hydrogel which have high porosity and high water retention capacity. During synthesis of cryogel at subzero temperature, the solvent freezes and forms ice crystals. Polymerization or gelation starts around these crystals. Ice crystals act as porogens, which on thawing give rise to interconnected pores (Kumar and Srivastava, 2010).