Synthesis and characterization of a novel biocompatible, non-toxic, and fast-gelling chitosan-PEG hydrogel based on Michael addition

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel hydrogel formed through maleimide-thiol conjugation. The hydrogel is produced by combining two precursors: chitosan functionalized with thiol groups and polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalized with maleimide groups, both of which were analyzed using NMR. The hydrogel was then subjected to several tests to evaluate its properties, including gelation time, swelling behavior, viscoelasticity, and degradation rate. The results showed that the gelation time of the hydrogel could be adjusted by changing the weight percentage of the precursors, as evidenced by the gelation time test. Additionally, the optimal formula for gelation was determined based on references and was used in subsequent experiments. The hydrogel demonstrated excellent flexibility in the swelling study, and the degradation test confirmed that it was biodegradable. The viscoelastic test revealed that the hydrogel was an elastic solid. Overall, the results suggest that this novel hydrogel has potential for biomedical applications.