Synthesis of Novel Hyaluronic Acid Sulfonated Hydrogels Using Safe Reactants: A Chemical and Biological Characterization

Overview

Journal Gels

Date 2022 Aug 25

PMID 36005081

Authors

Elisa Sturabotti

Silvia Consalvi

Luca Tucciarone

Elisa Macri

Valerio Di Lisio

Iolanda Francolini

Carmen Minichiello

Antonella Piozzi

Claudia Vuotto

Andrea Martinelli

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Here, we present a one-pot procedure for the preparation of hyaluronic acid (HA) sulfonated hydrogels in aqueous alkaline medium. The HA hydrogels were crosslinked using 1,4-butanedioldiglycidyl ether (BDDE) alone, or together with N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (Bes), as a safe sulfonating agent. Conditions for the simultaneous reaction of HA with BDDE and Bes were optimized and the resulting hydrogels were characterized under different reaction times (24, 72, and 96 h). The incorporation of sulfonic groups into the HA network was proven by elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy and its effect on water uptake was evaluated. Compared with the non-sulfonated sample, sulfonated gels showed improved mechanical properties, with their compressive modulus increased from 15 to 70 kPa, higher stability towards hyaluronidase, and better biocompatibility to 10T1/2 fibroblasts, especially after the absorption of collagen. As main advantages, the procedure described represents an easy and reproducible methodology for the fabrication of sulfonated hydrogels, which does not require toxic chemicals and/or solvents.

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