Ionically crosslinked glycosaminoglycan gels for soft tissue augmentation and drug delivery.

摘要

The present invention pertains to the use of glycosaminoglycans, chemically derivatized glycosaminoglycans, and optionally, chemically derivatized collagens to form ionically crosslinked gels useful in mammal soft tissue augmentation and in drug delivery systems. The derivatized glycosaminoglycans can be used to form an ionically homogeneous gel comprising one or more species of glycosaminoglycan derivative or can be used to form an ionically crosslinked heterogeneous gel comprising one or more negatively charged species of glycosaminoglycan or collagen derivative in combination with one or more positively charged species of glycosaminoglycan derivative or collagen derivative. The ionically crosslinked homogeneous or ionically crosslinked heterogeneous gels are produced from liquid solutions which upon adjusting pH in situ form a gel.