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Glycosaminoglycans

Glycosaminoglycans

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), also known as mucopolysaccharides, are long and linear polymers comprising of specific repeating disaccharides - the amino sugar that can be N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine, and a uronic acid that is usually glucuronic acid or iduronic acid.
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...

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Updated: Jan 4, 2026

The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications

The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications

Published on: October 7, 2016

Glycosaminoglycan-based hydrogels with programmable host reactions.

Lucas Schirmer¹, Karolina Chwalek¹, Mikhail V Tsurkan¹

¹Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany; Technische Universität Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Fetscherstr, 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany.

|November 4, 2019

Summary

This study shows that glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-based hydrogels can be tuned for safe in vivo use. Adjusting hydrogel properties controls host reactions, enabling effective tissue integration for tissue engineering.

Keywords:

Delivery Growth factor Heparin Hydrogel Implantation

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Tissue Engineering
Immunology

Background:

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-based biohybrid hydrogels offer tunable properties for cell and tissue culture.
Their suitability for in vivo applications requires understanding host reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the host response to in situ-assembling star(PEG)-GAG hydrogels after subcutaneous implantation.
To investigate how varying hydrogel properties (cytokine functionalization, mechanics, cell adhesion, degradability) influence immune and angiogenic responses.

Main Methods:

Subcutaneous implantation of star(PEG)-GAG hydrogel variants in C57BL/6J mice for up to 28 days.
Assessment of immune cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and angiogenic markers.
Systematic variation of hydrogel physical and biochemical properties.

Main Results:

GAG-based hydrogels induced minimal foreign body reactions compared to silicone controls.
Hydrogel properties could be adjusted to modulate degradation and tissue integration rates.
Controlled host responses ranged from low infiltration to rapid scaffold integration.

Conclusions:

In situ-assembling star(PEG)-GAG hydrogels demonstrate controllable foreign body reactions and tissue integration.
Defined adjustments to the hydrogel system allow for programming host responses.
These materials show promise as safe and effective scaffolds for in vivo tissue engineering.