| abstract |
Photocurable glycosaminoglycan (GAG) derivatives and crosslinked glycosaminoglycans, which are highly safe and biocompatible, a method of preparing such photocurable GAG derivatives readily moldable by casting using a solvent when desired, by which method unreacted substances causative of adverse effects can be readily eliminated, and a method of producing the crosslinked GAGs and medical materials based on the photocurable GAG derivatives or crosslinked GAGs are provided. The photocurable GAG derivatives comprise a glycosaminoglycan and a photoreactive compound bound thereto and can be produced, for example, by subjecting hydroxyl or carboxyl groups of the glycosaminoglycan to esterification reaction or amidation reaction, respectively, with the photoreactive compound. The crosslinked GAGs are derived from the photocurable GAG derivatives by intermolecular crosslinking of the photoreactive compound bound thereto. |