The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Thermogelling polymers that undergo reversible sol–gel transitions in aqueous media have gained considerable attention for biomedical applications such as injectable drug delivery and tissue engineering. However, conventional synthetic thermogels often suffer from poor biodegradability, limited biocompatibility, and insufficient mechanical stability, limiting their clinical potential. To overcome these drawbacks, we developed a novel class of thermogelling materials—acyl glycol chitosans (AGCs)—synthesized via N-acylation of glycol chitosan using various acyl groups. These polysaccharide-based thermogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability, enhanced thermogelation, and superior physical robustness compared to synthetic systems.  In this study, we introduce the physicochemical and biofunctional properties of AGCs and highlight their promising biomedical applications, including injectable delivery and 3D cell culture platforms.