Thermosensitive in situ hydrogel based on the hybrid of hyaluronic acid and modified PCL/PEG triblock copolymer

• A novel thermosensitive hydrogel (PECT).
• The introduction of hyaluronic acid. Conduct a process of crosslink between natural polymer (HA) and artificial polymer (PECT).
• Self-assembled nanoparticles system.
• Realize the tunable properties of hydrogel in some degree.

In this work, a new hydrogel was constructed using poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-1,4,8-trioxa[4.6]spiro-9-undecanone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-1,4,8-trioxa[4.6]spiro-9-undecanone) tri-block copolymers (PECT) with hyaluronic acid (HA) in order to expand application scopes of PECT hydrogel. The rheological and sol–gel phase transition behaviors were investigated by rheometer and test tube inversion method, and the interior morphologies of hydrogel systems were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). With the introduction of HA, certain properties of PECT hydrogel, such as viscosity and morphology, have present trends with regularity. Furthermore, with the participation of HA, the degradation and release of acetylsalicylic acid was slightly affected, however, the drug release mechanism of hydrogel has not been changed. PECT/HA hydrogel is confirmed to be non-toxic through a test to NIH3T3 cells. In conclusion, blending with HA is a feasible and safe method to tune properties of PECT hydrogel.