Injectable in situ gelling hydrogels are viable treatment options for meniscal injuries occurring in athletes. The present study aims to develop an injectable hydrogel via borax complexation of oxidized alginate, followed by a self-crosslinking reaction with gelatin through a Schiff's base reaction. Gelation kinetics and degree of crosslinking could be controlled by changing the concentration of components and the formation of Schiff ;'s base formation was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The injectable alginate dialdehyde-gelatin (15ADA20G) hydrogel showed 423 ± 20 % water uptake, had an average pore size of 48 μm and compressive strength 295 ± 32 kPa. Phase contrast images, scanning electron micrographs and actin staining depicted adhesion, profuse proliferation, and distribution of fibrochondrocytes on the hydrogel demonstrating its cytocompatibility. Application of hydrogel at the pig meniscal tear ex vivo showed good integration with the host meniscal tissue. Further, the histology of 15ADA20G hydrogel filled meniscus showed retention of hydrogel in the close proximity of meniscal tear even after 3days in culture. The self-crosslinking injectable hydrogel offers a niche for the growth of fibrochondrocytes.

中文翻译：

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用于半月板修复的可注射自交联水凝胶：氧化藻酸盐和明胶的研究。

对于运动员中发生的半月板损伤，可注射的原位胶凝水凝胶是可行的治疗选择。本研究旨在通过氧化藻酸盐的硼砂络合，然后通过席夫碱反应与明胶进行自交联反应来开发可注射的水凝胶。凝胶动力学和交联度可以通过改变组分的浓度来控制，Schi ff的形成可以通过拉曼光谱法来确定。可注射的藻酸盐二醛-明胶（15ADA20G）水凝胶显示出423±20％的吸水率，平均孔径为48μm，抗压强度为295±32 kPa。相衬图像，扫描电子显微镜照片和肌动蛋白染色显示粘附，大量增殖，在水凝胶上纤维状软骨细胞的分布和分布证明其细胞相容性。水凝胶在猪离体半月板撕裂中的应用显示出与宿主半月板组织的良好整合。此外，15ADA20G水凝胶填充半月板的组织学显示，即使在培养3天后，水凝胶仍保留在半月板撕裂附近。自交联的可注射水凝胶为纤维软骨细胞的生长提供了利基。