The synthesis and degradation of collagenase-degradable poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based hydrogels and sponges for potential applications as scaffolds in tissue engineering

► A collagenase-cleavable crosslinker was incorporated into PHEMA-based hydrogels. ► Morphologies of PHEMA-based sponges were characterized by confocal microscopy. ► The hydrogels had low toxicity toward human corneal epithelial cells. ► PHEMA sponges were resistant to degradation by collagenase. ► Hydrogels of PHEMA-PEG copolymers were slowly degraded by collagenase.