Developing mechanically robust, triazole-zwitterionic hydrogels to mitigate foreign body response (FBR) for islet...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Zwitterionic hydrogels (e.g., polycarboxybetaine, polysulfobetaine) offer biocompatibility and low biofouling for biomedical applications.
• Poor mechanical properties of current zwitterionic hydrogels limit their practical use.
• Enhancing mechanical robustness without compromising biocompatibility is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop mechanically robust zwitterionic hydrogels with preserved biocompatibility and antifouling properties.
• To investigate the potential of triazole moieties for improving hydrogel mechanics via π-π stacking.
• To evaluate the in vivo performance and application potential of the novel hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized new triazole-zwitterionic (TR-ZW) hydrogels by incorporating triazole moieties into hydrogel monomers.
• Characterized mechanical properties including tensile strain, compression resistance, and folding resistance.
• Assessed antifouling properties and biocompatibility through subcutaneous implantation in mice, evaluating foreign body response (FBR).

Main Results:

• TR-ZW hydrogels demonstrated excellent antifouling properties comparable to conventional zwitterionic hydrogels.
• Significantly improved mechanical robustness: 250% tensile strain, 89% compressive strain, and 65% compression resistance over 10 cycles.
• Reduced FBR in vivo, showing less fibrosis and increased blood vessel formation compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Triazole incorporation effectively enhances the mechanical properties of zwitterionic hydrogels without sacrificing biocompatibility or antifouling capabilities.
• TR-ZW hydrogels represent a promising class of advanced biomaterials for demanding biomedical applications.
• Demonstrated potential in islet encapsulation for diabetes treatment, achieving correction for up to one month in mice.