The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Tissue expansion traditionally relies on periodic saline injection into implanted silicone balloons via external tubing, causing patient discomfort. Although self-swelling hydrogels eliminate the need for tubing, their immediate post-implantation swelling leads to suture wound dehiscence. We developed an interpenetrating hydrogel network consisting of enzymatically degradable hyaluronic acid network and non-degradable polyacrylic acid network. The hydrogel remains structurally intact and initiates swelling only after enzyme injection, with controllable onset and rate. Furthermore, a generalized ideal elastomeric gel model confirms the hydrogel's ability to generate sufficient pressure for tissue expansion. The theoretical framework aligns with experimental observations, demonstrating that the tissue expansion is induced by yes1-associated protein-mediated epidermal proliferation. This approach establishes its potential as a next-generation tissue expander for clinial applications.