Characterization of hydrogels prepared from copolymerization of the different degrees of methacrylate-grafted chondroitin sulfate macromers and acrylic acid.

Different degrees (between 20 and 75%) of methacrylate-grafted chondroitin sulfate (CS-MA) were synthesized. These CS-MA macromers were further copolymerized with acrylic acid (AA) at the molar ratio of 1 to 5 to form hydrogels. The sol percents of these CS-MA-AA hydrogels decreased and the cross-linking densities were studied with respect to the degrees of MA substitution onto CS-MA. The cytotoxicity with the increase in degree of MA substitution (DS) onto CS-MA as well as their hydrogels prepared from the corresponding macromers was tested using 293T cells. The cell viability of human dermal fibroblast and mescenchymal stem cells was further tested upon exposure to 75% CS-MA for 1-, 3-, and 7-day incubation period. The hydrogels maintained degradability for long periods of time as evidenced by SEM. A model protein, BSA, demonstrated the prolong-release behaviors of these hydrogels in simulated gastric fluids and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solutions and a faster release rate in the presence of chondroitinase and esterase at pH 7.4. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.