Injectable Radiopaque Hyaluronic Acid Granular Hydrogels for Intervertebral Disc Repair

The radiopaque granular hydrogel halted loss of disc height due to degeneration in a goat model.

• An injectable hyaluronic acid granular hydrogel was developed to address issues of weak mechanical integrity and migration in existing treatments for disc disease.
• The granular structure allows for easy injectability and low extrusion forces.
• Direct visualization during injection and monitoring post-injection is facilitated by the hydrogel's radiopacity.
• The hydrogel enhanced proteoglycan content and reduced collagen content in the nucleus pulposus region compared to degenerative discs.
• It helped maintain structural integrity and promote healthy segregation of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus regions.

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