Synthesis of cross-linked poly(aldehyde guluronate) hydrogels

Alginate is an attractive material for controlled drug delivery and cell tr ansplantation applications. However, alginate hydrogels are not degradable, have limited mechanical properties, and lack the functional groups require d for cell interaction. To address these limitations of alginate while main taining their favorable characteristics, we have synthesized new polymers d erived from sodium poly(guluronate), the portion of the alginate molecule t hat is responsible for its gelling behaviour. Sodium poly(guluronate) was i solated, oxidized with sodium periodate, and cross-linked with adipic dihyd razide to yield hydrogels with a wide range of mechanical properties, and w ith cell adhesion peptides coupled to their backbones. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.