Evaluation of Acid-Treated Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogelation

Abstract:

Though hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel has drawn great attention in biomedical society, it’s long molecular weights sometimes have been problematic due to its difficulty in handling. After reduction of its high molecular weight into smaller sizes with various concentrations of hydrogen chloride solutions, its chemical and biological properties have been examined by changes in viscosity, FTIR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography as well as cellular interactions. While FTIR analysis indicated maintenance of its original chemical structures, its viscosity has been remarkably reduced and its extent was dependent upon the employment of acid concentrations. After controlling its molecular weight to approximately 100 kDa and coupling of aminopropymethacrylate to the treated HA, we evaluated in vitro cellular interactions and cell proliferations of the HA-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hydrogel.