Synthesis and characterization of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels for vocal fold regeneration

CARB 29

Xinqiao Jia, xinqiao@mit.edu1, James Kobler, jkobler@partners.org2, Rodney J. Clifton, Rodney_Clifton@brown.edu3, Tong Jiao, Tong_Jiao@brown.edu3, Steven M. Zeitels, zeitels.steven@mgh.harvard.edu2, and Robert Langer, rlanger@mit.edu1. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., E25/342, Cambridge, MA 02139, (2) Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, (3) Division of Engineering, Brown University, Box D, Providence, RI 02912
During normal phonation, human vocal folds sustain more than 100 collisions per second. When the pliability of this complex biomechanical system is reduced by scarring, voice quality may be compromised. Injectable hydrogels that not only mimic the biomechanical characteristics of the vocal fold tissue but also exhibit prolonged in vivo residence time are attractive candidates for vocal fold regeneration. We have synthesized a series of injectable hydrogels using hyaluronic acid (HA) as the starting material. Chemical modifications of HA afforded macromolecules that can be crosslinked to form hydrogels either by UV irradiation or simple mixing. Synthetic polymers were covalently linked to the hydrogel networks in order to fine-tune their elasticity and stability. Conjugation of bulky functional groups to HA backbone led to HA derivatives that are resistant to enzymatic degradation. HA-based hydrogel microspheres with protective shells have also been synthesized and characterized. Novel mechanical experiments were carried out in order to measure the viscoelastic properties of the synthetic materials and vocal fold tissue at frequency range that is relevant to human phonation. In vivo evaluation of the hydrogel biomaterials is currently in progress.
 

Synthesis of Carbohydrates
8:30 AM-12:30 PM, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 San Diego Marriott -- San Diego A, Oral

Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry

The 229th ACS National Meeting, in San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2005