Dynamic and Self-Healable Chitosan/Hyaluronic Acid-Based In Situ-Forming Hydrogels
Sheila Maiz-Fernández,
Leyre Pérez-Álvarez,
Unai Silván,
José Luis Vilas-Vilela,
Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
Affiliations
Sheila Maiz-Fernández
Macromolecular Chemistry Group (LABQUIMAC), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
Leyre Pérez-Álvarez
Macromolecular Chemistry Group (LABQUIMAC), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
Unai Silván
BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940 Leioa, Spain
José Luis Vilas-Vilela
Macromolecular Chemistry Group (LABQUIMAC), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940 Leioa, Spain
In situ-forming, biodegradable, and self-healing hydrogels, which maintain their integrity after damage, owing to dynamic interactions, are essential biomaterials for bioapplications, such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. This work aims to develop in situ, biodegradable and self-healable hydrogels based on dynamic covalent bonds between N-succinyl chitosan (S-CHI) and oxidized aldehyde hyaluronic acid (A-HA). A robust effect of the molar ratio of both S-CHI and A-HA was observed on the swelling, mechanical stability, rheological properties and biodegradation kinetics of these hydrogels, being the stoichiometric ratio that which leads to the lowest swelling factor (×12), highest compression modulus (1.1·10−3 MPa), and slowest degradation (9 days). Besides, a rapid (3 s) self-repairing ability was demonstrated in the macro scale as well as by rheology and mechanical tests. Finally, the potential of these biomaterials was evidenced by cytotoxicity essay (>85%).
