Polysaccharide-Based Injectable Hydrogels with Fast Gelation and Self-Strengthening Mechanical Kinetics for Oral...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Oral defects cause significant health issues and functional disorders.
• Current injectable hydrogels lack adaptive mechanical properties post-implantation.
• Tissue engineering requires materials with dynamic mechanical responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an injectable hydrogel with programmed mechanical kinetics for oral tissue regeneration.
• To create a material with instant gelation, gradual self-strengthening, and biodegradation.
• To enhance injectable hydrogels for improved oral jaw repair applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a rapid Schiff base reaction between chitosan and aldehyde-modified sodium hyaluronate for gelation.
• Incorporated slow reactions between chitosan and epoxy-modified hydroxyapatite for self-strengthening.
• Engineered hydrogels with bio-adhesion, self-healing, bactericidal, hemostasis, and X-ray imaging capabilities.

Main Results:

• Achieved instant gelation and gradual self-strengthening of the injectable hydrogel.
• Demonstrated outstanding biodegradation properties of the developed hydrogel.
• Confirmed multiple functionalities including bio-adhesion, self-healing, bactericidal activity, hemostasis, and X-ray imaging.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrogel exhibits programmed mechanical kinetics and multiple functionalities for oral jaw repair.
• This strategy offers new insights into dynamic mechanical regulation of injectable hydrogels.
• The findings promote the application of advanced hydrogels in tissue regeneration.