Injectable and thermosensitive hydrogels mediating a universal macromolecular contrast agent with radiopacity for noninvasive imaging of deep tissues.

ABSTRACT: It is very challenging to visualize implantable medical devices made of biodegradable polymers in deep tissues. Herein, we designed a novel macromolecular contrast agent with ultrahigh radiopacity (iodinate content > 50%) via polymerizing an iodinated trimethylene carbonate monomer into the two ends of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). A set of thermosensitive and biodegradable polyester-PEG-polyester triblock copolymers with varied polyester compositions synthesized by us, which were soluble in water at room temperature and could spontaneously form hydrogels at body temperature, were selected as the demonstration materials. The addition of macromolecular contrast agent did not obviously compromise the injectability and thermogelation properties of polymeric hydrogels, but conferred them with e

SUBMITTER: Wu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8165329 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature