Medicinal hope for injectable hydrogels

Injectable hydrogels with dual ionic properties, biodegradability and low cytotoxicity have been developed by South Korean scientists to deliver proteins therapeutically.

Doo Sung Lee and colleagues from Sungkyunkwan University developed an amphoteric copolymer to form dually cationic and anionic hydrogels, in response to pH and temperature changes. The amphoteric nature of the polymer means it should bind to both cationic and anionic biomolecules, and helps sustained co-delivery of them.

The copolymer changing from sol to gel

Read more in Chemistry World or download Lee’s communication in ChemComm.

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