POS8-1222
In Situ-Forming Injectable Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels via Michael Addition with Tunable Rheological Properties
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Sua Choi (Chungnam national university)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix, is a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine owing to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hydrophilicity. However, the poor mechanical properties and rapid degradation of native HA limit its biomedical applications, necessitating chemical modification to improve its stability and functionality. In this study, methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) and thiolated hyaluronic acid (HASH) were synthesized to overcome these limitations. Upon mixing, HAMA and HASH reacted via Michael addition under physiological conditions (pH 7.4), enabling in situ gelation without external stimuli. The resulting injectable hydrogel enables minimally invasive administration and readily conforms to irregular tissue defects, making it a promising platform for various biomedical applications. The successful synthesis of HAMA and HASH was confirmed by 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Hydrogels with identical degrees of substitution were prepared at different HAMA/HASH mixing ratios to evaluate the influence of precursor composition on gelation behavior and viscoelastic properties. The HAMA/HASH mixing ratio significantly influenced gelation time and viscoelastic behavior, with the 2:2 formulation exhibiting the highest storage modulus (G′). Furthermore, all formulations exhibited pronounced shear-thinning behavior and rapid thixotropic recovery, demonstrating excellent injectability and structural stability following shear. These findings demonstrate that modulation of the HAMA/HASH mixing ratio provides an effective strategy for tailoring gelation behavior and viscoelastic properties. The developed HAMA/HASH hydrogel system represents a promising injectable biomaterial platform for a wide range of biomedical applications.
