Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels are attractive biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering applications owing to their highly swollen network structure, ability to encapsulate cells and bioactive molecules, efficient mass transportation, and biodegradability. The challenges are designing scaffolds with appropriate mechanical properties and degradation rates, which ideally is proportional to matrix deposition. In this study, the effect of cross-linking size and density of HA hydrogels on mechanical properties and degradation behaviors has been investigated. HA hydrogels were prepared by the covalent cross-linking of methacrylated HA with Thiol surface molecules with different sizes and shapes at various cross-linking densities. With controllable mechanical properties and degradation rates, the developed HA hydrogels would be further investigated for cartilage regeneration applications.<br/>

Injectable hyaluronic-based hydrogels as biomimic scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering

251st National Meeting (2016)

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