Post-crosslinking partial degradation of amide crosslinked hydrogels

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a hydrogel product comprising crosslinked glycosaminoglycan molecules at a concentration C(mg/mL). The method comprising the steps of: a) crosslinking a glycosaminoglycan having a molecular weight of above 700 kDa in conditions so as to provide a glycosaminoglycan hydrogel crosslinked by amide bonds and having a C(mg/mL) that is above C/2, wherein Cis the concentration of gel-form glycosaminoglycan in the gel when fully swollen in physiological buffer; b) subjecting the hydrogel from step a) to post-crosslinking degradation of the glycosaminoglycan backbone, thereby reducing the Cof the hydrogel to a value that is below C/2; and c) formulating the partially degraded hydrogel obtained from step b) to form an injectable hydrogel composition having a concentration of glycosaminoglycan molecules of C(mg/mL).