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We designed bioinspired cross-linkers based on desmosine, the cross-linker in natural elastin, to prepare hydrogels with thiolated hyaluronic acid. These short, rigid cross-linkers are based on pyridinium salts as in desmosine and can connect two polymer backbones.
Generally, the obtained semi-synthetic hydrogels are form-stable, can withstand repeated stress, have a large linear-elastic range and show strain stiffening behavior typical for biopolymer networks. In addition, it is possible to introduce a positive charge to the core of the cross-linker without affecting the gelation efficiency, or consequently the network connectivity.
However, the mechanical properties strongly depend on the charge of the cross-linker. The properties of the presented hydrogels can thus be tuned in a range important for engineering of soft tissues by controlling the cross-linking density and the charge of the cross-linker.
The future challenges of an aging society and the corresponding increase in the need for regenerative medical devices have stimulated worldwide research efforts in the field of tissue engineering. Particular attention has been focused on hydrogels 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 including those made from polymers such as polyethylene glycol diacrylates PEG-DA 8 , polyglycerol diacrylates 9 , 10 and chemically modified hyaluronic acid HA 11 , exploiting their hydrophilicity as well as high biocompatibility.
