Preparation of printable double-network hydrogels with rapid self-healing and high elasticity based on hyaluronic acid for controlled drug release

Abstract

On account of the features about computer-accurate control, the technology of 3D printing has a broad future for developing customized ergonomic biomedical materials. Herein, a printable dual-network hydrogel for drug delivery was designed. The acrylamide-modified hyaluronic acid was mixed with folic acid and Fe3+ at first. With the formation of metal-carboxylate coordination bonds, the first layer of physical crosslinking network (HFF) was formed, followed by performing the spectral analysis and rheology measurements to verify the bonding. The second layer of PAM network was then polymerized by ultraviolet radiation, with high elasticity and fatigue resistance to satisfy its application as a wound dressing. Furthermore, acetylsalicylic acid (Asa) was used as a drug model resulted in a pH responsiveness of the prepared hydrogels with the sustained drug releasing behavior over 300 h. These results signified the potential application of this self-healing hydrogel with good mechanical properties in regenerative medicine.