Injectable hybrid hydrogels of hyaluronic acid crosslinked by well-defined synthetic polycations: Preparation and characterization in vitro and in vivo

An injectable hybrid hydrogel system was developed consisting of hyaluronic acid (HA) crosslinked by well-defined block copolymers of the cationic poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) (PAEM) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Robust, shear-thinning hybrid hydrogel was produced by mixing HA and 4-arm star PEG-PAEM block copolymer at 1:1 charge ratio. The encapsulation and release of highly viable human mesenchymal stem cells in physiological media was demonstrated. After subcutaneous injection of the hybrid gel in mice, mild but resolvable inflammatory response was observed. This hybrid gel could serve as a model system for studying structure-function relationship of polyelectrolyte hydrogels and as a practical injectable biomaterial for medical applications.