%0 Journal Article %A Nimmo, Chelsea M. %A Owen, Shawn C. %A Shoichet, Molly S. %D 2011 %T Diels−Alder Click Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Diels_Alder_Click_Cross_Linked_Hyaluronic_Acid_Hydrogels_for_Tissue_Engineering/2683912 %R 10.1021/bm101446k.s001 %2 https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/4351873 %K tissue engineering %K multistep synthesis %K Diel %K Tissue EngineeringHyaluronic acid %K maleimide molar ratio %K HA hydrogels %K degradation studies %K degradation properties %K tissue engineering applications %X Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring polymer that holds considerable promise for tissue engineering applications. Current cross-linking chemistries often require a coupling agent, catalyst, or photoinitiator, which may be cytotoxic, or involve a multistep synthesis of functionalized-HA, increasing the complexity of the system. With the goal of designing a simpler one-step, aqueous-based cross-linking system, we synthesized HA hydrogels via Diels−Alder “click” chemistry. Furan-modified HA derivatives were synthesized and cross-linked via dimaleimide poly(ethylene glycol). By controlling the furan to maleimide molar ratio, both the mechanical and degradation properties of the resulting Diels−Alder cross-linked hydrogels can be tuned. Rheological and degradation studies demonstrate that the Diels−Alder click reaction is a suitable cross-linking method for HA. These HA cross-linked hydrogels were shown to be cytocompatible and may represent a promising material for soft tissue engineering. %I ACS Publications