Synthesis and Hydrolytic degradation of A Self-degradable Glycol Chitosan Thermogel
발표자
김다은 (충남대학교)
연구책임자
허강무 (충남대학교)
공동저자
김다은 (충남대학교), 레티푹 (충남대학교), 허강무 (충남대학교)
초록
내용
Injectable thermogelling polymers are promising biomaterials for minimally invasive biomedical applications. Although glycol chitosan–based thermogels offer excellent biocompatibility and functionality, their biodegradation is largely enzyme-dependent, limiting controllability. Herein, we report a hydrolytically degradable glycol chitosan thermogel incorporating ester-based cleavage linkers. Hydrophobic hexyl groups were conjugated to glycol chitosan to form hexyl-substituted glycol chitosan (HS-GC), enabling temperature-responsive sol–gel transition and controlled hydrolytic degradation independent of enzymatic activity. The structure of HS-GC was confirmed by 1H NMR and FT-IR analyses. The thermogels exhibited tunable thermosensitivity, favorable injectability, and predictable degradation behavior, demonstrating their potential as a controllable platform for localized drug delivery.