| 초록 |
Hyaluronic acid (HA), a ubiquitous glycosaminoglycan in extracellular matrix, is widely used in bio-engineering because of its high viscoelasticity and space-filling property. This study reveals two different HA hydrogels by regulating the gelation kinetics of Fe3+ and a catechol cross-linker, including Fe3+ -induced covalent bonding and coordination bonding. To probe the two roles of Fe3+ in catechol-modified HA (HA-CA), Fe3+-catechol coordination and catechol oxidation followed by coupling reaction, the Fe3+-induced HA-CA gelation was analyzed using a UV-vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, rotational rheometer, and several scattering techniques. The hydrogels show enhanced cohesiveness and shock absorption with increasing pH due to increasing coordinate bonds. The present gelation strategy is expected to expand the utility of HA hydrogels in biological applications, offering control of the phase, gel network, and viscoelastic properties. |
