A shear-thinning therapeutic composition is provided along with methods of making and using the therapeutic composition.

A method of preparing a hydrogel product comprising crosslinked glycosaminoglycan molecules, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mixed solution of glycosaminoglycan molecules, a di- or multinucleophilic functional crosslinker, and a mononucleophilic functional graft chain; (b) activating carboxyl groups on the glycosaminoglycan molecules with a coupling agent to form activated glycosaminoglycan molecules; and (c) simultaneously crosslinking the activated glycosaminoglycan molecules and grafting the graft chain to the activated glycosaminoglycan molecules by reacting the nucleophiles with the activated carboxyl groups.

This invention provides a preparation, composition, product, and application of a photo-coupled synergistically crosslinked hydrogel material. The preparation includes dissolving Component A including a photosensitive polymer derivative having o-nitrobenzyl phototriggers and Component B including a polymer derivative having amine or alkene (double group) or sulfhydryl group in a biocompatible medium to obtain solution A and solution B, respectively; mixing the solution A and solution B homogeneously to obtain a hydrogel precursor solution; initiating photo-coupled synergistic crosslinking under an irradiation of a UV light to form the hydrogel. The irradiation causes the o-nitrobenzyl phototriggers to generate an aldehyde group/keto group or a nitroso group to initiate photo-coupled synergetic crosslinking. The photo-coupled synergistically crosslinked hydrogel has applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, 3D printing and as a carrier of cell, protein or drug.

A method of preparing a hydrogel product comprising crosslinked glycosaminoglycan molecules, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mixed solution of glycosaminoglycan molecules, a di- or multinucleophilic functional crosslinker, and a mononucleophilic functional graft chain; (b) activating carboxyl groups on the glycosaminoglycan molecules with a coupling agent to form activated glycosaminoglycan molecules; and (c) simultaneously crosslinking the activated glycosaminoglycan molecules and grafting the graft chain to the activated glycosaminoglycan molecules by reacting the nucleophiles with the activated carboxyl groups.