Injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel for 19F magnetic resonance imaging

• Hyaluronic acid hydrogel with fluorine-19 modality was first prepared.
• The hydrogel can be directly applied in vivo.
• F-19 and H-1 magnetic resonance images of the hydrogel were obtained.

We report on a19F labeled injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel that can be monitored by both 1H and 19F MR imaging. The HA based hydrogel formed via carbazone reaction can be obtained within a minute by simple mixing of HA-carbazate and HA-aldehyde derivatized polymers. 19F contrast agent was linked to with carbazate and thiol dually functionalized HA via orthogonal Michael addition reaction which afforded cross-linkable and 19F labeled HA. The 19F labeling of HA polymer did not affect the mechanical properties of the formed hydrogel. As a result, the shape of a hydrogel sample could be imaged very well by both 1H MRI and high resolution19F MRI. This hydrogel has high potential in clinical applications since it is injectable, biocompatible, and can be tracked in a minimally invasive manner. The present approach can be applied in preparation of injectable 19F labeled hydrogel biomaterials from other natural biomacromolecules.

We developed a 19F labeled injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel formed within one minute via carbazone reaction. The obtained hydrogel could be imaged very well by both 1H and 19F MRI. This hydrogel has high potential in clinical applications and the modification approach can also be applied to other hydrogel.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide