Fabrication and properties of an injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel loaded with corticosteroid

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a common chronic sinonasal inflammatory disease, frequently requires surgical intervention, yet postoperative bleeding and adhesions remain challenging. While topical hyaluronic acid (HA) and corticosteroids show therapeutic potential, conventional formulations often suffer from rapid drug release. This study developed a pH-responsive HA hydrogel (HA@F127-MF) loaded with mometasone furoate (MF) to address these limitations. Oxidized HA (OHA) and aminated HA (HA-ADH) were synthesized and verified via FTIR and ¹H NMR. The hydrogel demonstrated exceptional swelling capacity, achieving ∼1500 % equilibrium swelling ratio in PBS within 8 h. Rheological tests revealed rapid gelation, self-healing properties, and favorable viscoelasticity, while SEM confirmed its stable 3D microporous structure. Sustained MF release (79.4 % over 14 days) was achieved with pH-dependent kinetics. In vitro cytotoxicity assays using human nasal epithelial cells (HNEPCs) indicated excellent biocompatibility. APTT and PT tests suggested enhanced hemostatic effects via the intrinsic coagulation pathway. These findings position HA@F127-MF hydrogel as a promising dual-functional platform for CRS postoperative care, combining sustained anti-inflammatory drug delivery with hemorrhage control. However, further in vivo validation and clinical trials are warranted to confirm its efficacy and safety for translational applications. This dynamic drug-release hydrogel design may enhance clinical outcomes by concurrently addressing postoperative bleeding and chronic inflammation.