Hyaluronan hydrogels modified by glycinated Kraft lignin: Morphology, swelling, viscoelastic properties and
Lenka Musilová1, Aleš Mráček1, Adriana Kovalcik2
1Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, třída Tomáše Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; Department of Physics and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, nám. T.G. Masaryka 275, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Effects of the addition of water soluble glycinated Kraft lignin (WS/KL) on the mechanical stability and biocompatibility of hyaluronan (NaHy) hydrogels were evaluated in this work. Water soluble lignin was obtained by the modification of Kraft lignin via a Mannich reaction. It was found that WS/KL is highly compatible with hyaluronan due to its improved water solubility, which favours its use in designing new advanced composite hydrogels. The effects of the concentration of WS/KL on morphological, swelling and creep/recovery behaviours of hyaluronan hydrogels were investigated. It was detected that the creep resistance and creep recovery of NaHy hydrogels was improved by the incorporation of up to 3% (w/w) of WS/KL. In contrast, the swelling capacity of hydrogels was decreased. The cytotoxicity tests proved that glycinated KL lignin limits the viability of cells only slightly, and the final hyaluronan/lignin hydrogels were non-toxic materials.
