Hyaluronan-based hydrogels particles prepared by crosslinking with trisodium trimetaphosphate. Synthesis and characterization

Hyaluronan in an emulsion was crosslinked with trisodium trimetaphosphate to synthesise hydrogel particles. The reaction was carried out to different crosslinking densities in the presence of sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. Swelling degrees of the particles were measured in water and in sodium chloride at different concentrations to study the effect of the crosslinking density and the effect of the ionic strength on swelling. Finally, absorption of methylene blue in the particles allowed us to show a linear relationship between crosslinking density and methylene blue absorption.