Injectable hydrogel derived from chitosan with tunable mechanical properties via hybrid-crosslinking system. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seo, Jeong Wook; Shin, Su Ryon; Lee, Min-Young; Cha, Jae Min; Min, Kyung Hyun; Lee, Sang Cheon; Shin, Seon Young; Bae, Hojae
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 251(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Chitosan -- Hydroxybutyl methacrylation -- Injectable hydrogel -- Hybrid-crosslinking -- Microstructure; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Synthesis of thermal- and photo-crosslinkable hydroxybutyl methacrylated chitosan. Temperature and light can be used to control the crosslink density of chitosan hydrogel. Mechanical and biochemical optimization possible by adjusting crosslinking density. Injection of hydroxybutyl methacrylated chitosan solution into mice successfully forms hydrogels without incision. In vivo forming HBC-MA hydrogels for injectable hydrogel applications. Abstract: Thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogels that spontaneously react to physiological temperature have been widely studied to be used in biomedical fields. However, several challenges on their unstable structures with large-sized pores and low mechanical strength under physiological conditions must be addressed to enable their practical applications. We synthesized the hydroxybutyl methacrylated chitosan (HBC-MA) hydrogel that possesses both thermo-sensitive and photo-crosslinkable properties. The HBC-MA showed effective sol-gel transition under physiological temperature as well as a sensitive photo-crosslinkable property with visible light capable of skin penetration. The co-nonsolvency property and thermo-sensitivity of HBC-MA prevented unintended loss of the hydrogel graft after being subcutaneously injected in mice. Subsequently applied visible light on the skin beneath which the hydrogel was injected significantly improved the mechanical strength and stability of the graft. The injectable HBC-MA hydrogel developed in this study can be applicable to a wide range of biomedical fields such as drug delivery system and tissue engineering.