In situ formation of injectable and porous heparin-based hydrogel

In this study, by combining photopolymerization and particle leaching technique, in situ formation of porous hydrogel with pore interconnectivity was demonstrated in vivo upon subcutaneous injection into the back of mice as well as in vitro. A precursor solution containing thiolated heparin, PEG-diacrylate (PEG-DA), and gelatin microparticles (GMPs) as a fast dissolving porogen were photopolymerized by visible-light-initiated thiol-ene reaction with eosin Y (EY) as a photo initiator and triethanolamine (TEOA) as a co-initiator. Formation of porous structure of the hydrogel after subsequent leaching of GMPs was confirmed in an animal model as well as in a physiological environment. The physical characteristics of the hydrogel were analyzed, and the acute in vivo biocompatibility of this system was characterized.