| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a sterile injectable hydrogel composition, comprising the steps of: a) covalently crosslinking a glycosaminoglycan using a bi- or poly-functional crosslinking agent to form a covalently crosslinking glycosaminoglycan, b) swelling the covalently crosslinked glycosaminoglycan in a solution comprising a divalent zinc cation to form a hydrogel composition, and c) sterilizing the hydrogel composition by autoclaving to form a sterilized injectable hydrogel composition, and to sterilized injectable hydrogel compositions obtainable by said method. |