| abstract |
Dihydroxyphenyl cross-linked polymer networks are provided that are useful in artificial tissue and tissue engineering applications, such as artificial or synthetic cartilage. This network first prepares a polyamine or polycarboxylate polymer (each with multiple amine or carboxylic acid groups attached along the length of the molecule), which in the case of polyamines Reaction of a free carboxylic acid group, or in the case of a polycarboxylate, with a hydroxyphenyl compound having a free primary amine group, and substitution of the hydroxyphenyl compound on the polymer by a carbodiimide-mediated reaction pathway Produced by obtaining a substituted polymer. This polymer is then converted to the other by a dimerization reaction between two hydroxyphenyl groups bound to different polymers, catalyzed by enzymes under the temperature and pH of metabolic conditions. Such polymer is linked. In a preferred embodiment, a polymer network is created from tyramine-substituted hyaluronan molecules linked by dityramine bonds to obtain a stable, agglomerated hydrogel having the desired physical properties. A method of manufacturing such a network is also provided. |