PEG‐Dialdehydes/Hyperbranched Amines Based Hydrogels and their Potential as Futures Bone Adhesives

ABSTRACT The potential of aminoterminated hyperbranched polyglycerol (hPG‐NH 2 ) crosslinked by polyethylene glycol dialdehyde (DA) hydrogel as a bone adhesive is presented in this proof‐of‐concept study. The hydrogel system, crosslinked by Schiff base bonds, is designed to degrade hydrolytically when applied internally. To elaborate the relationship between the crosslinker length and the material properties, three different DAs with different molecular masses were used, as well as glutaraldehyde, and also blends of those components. It was shown that the hydrogel's properties could be adjusted by application of these aldehydes and their mixtures. In general, the gelation time decreases with lower molecular mass of the dialdehyde crosslinker, whereas the gel strength increases. The hydrogel model adhesives lead to a bond strength of up to 800 kPA on bone substrates.