New Method of Injectable Hydrogels by Novel Photo-polymerization

Utilizing the existence of the induction period in photo-polymerization, we propose a new injection method of photo-polymerizable, thermocrosslinking hydrogels made of di-acrylated Pluronic F127 (DA-PF127). This method can solve the problem of fast dissolution of thermal gelation as a scaffold and the disadvantages of the existing injection method that photo-polymerize di-acrylated Pluronic polymer after injection using optical fiber. Injectable gelation of DA-PF127 by the proposed method was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The enhanced stability by this novel photo-polymerization strategy was confirmed by the more sustained release of loaded protein as well as the prolonged degradation time of the hydrogels.