PEG‐Grafted Chitosan as an Injectable Thermoreversible Hydrogel

Summary: PEG‐grafted chitosan was formulated such that its solution undergoes a thermally reversed phase transition from an injectable free‐flowing solution at low temperature to a gel at body temperature. Aqueous solutions of PEG‐grafted chitosan can be prepared at physiological pH values, thereby allowing safe incorporation of bioactive molecules. This injectable thermoreversible hydrogel is potentially suitable for a wide range of biomedical applications, particularly in sustained in vivo drug release and tissue engineering. An aqueous solution of PEG‐grafted chitosan polymer is injectable at low temperatures but forms a gel at body temperature. magnified image An aqueous solution of PEG‐grafted chitosan polymer is injectable at low temperatures but forms a gel at body temperature.