title: Hyaluronic Acid Based Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine Applications.
abstract: Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels, obtained by cross-linking HA molecules with divinyl sulfone (DVS) based on a simple, reproducible, and safe process that does not employ any organic solvents, were developed. Owing to an innovative preparation method the resulting homogeneous hydrogels do not contain any detectable residual cross-linking agent and are easier to inject through a fine needle. HA hydrogels were characterized in terms of degradation and biological properties, viscoelasticity, injectability, and network structural parameters. They exhibit a rheological behaviour typical of strong gels and show improved viscoelastic properties by increasing HA concentration and decreasing HA/DVS weight ratio. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that processes such as sterilization and extrusion through clinical needles do not imply significant alteration of viscoelastic properties. Both SANS and rheological tests indicated that the cross-links appear to compact the network, resulting in a reduction of the mesh size by increasing the cross-linker amount. In vitro degradation tests of the HA hydrogels demonstrated that these new hydrogels show a good stability against enzymatic degradation, which increases by increasing HA concentration and decreasing HA/DVS weight ratio. Finally, the hydrogels show a good biocompatibility confirmed by in vitro tests.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Mostra d'Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J. F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borzacchiello
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Mostra d'Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J. F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Biopharma Commercial, Novozymes Biopharma DK A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birgitte M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Malle
authors.affiliation: Biopharma Commercial, Novozymes Biopharma DK A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwach-Abdellaoui
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Mostra d'Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J. F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy ; Department of Chemical Science and Materials Technology DCSMT-CNR, Piazzale Aldo Moro 7, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D012212:Rheology; D013450:Sulfones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D013450:Sulfones; C009873:divinyl sulfone; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid