Hydrogel has been bourgeoning in recent years as a scaffold in the tissue engineering thanks to its excellent ability to mimic natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Driven by enormous potential of hydrogels, we have developed a green, facile and simple synthesis approach to fabricate gelatin/polyethylene glycol (G/PEG) macroporous hydrogels by three steps process consist of gelation, lyophilization and post curing. Poly(ethylene glycol) diglycydyl ether (PEGDGE) was used as a crosslinking agent. The effect of altering the composition on hydrogel structure, mechanical properties, swelling and degradation resistance was evaluated by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) into G/PEG system. Structural features and crosslinking interaction of the hydrogels were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The morphology of the porous hydrogels was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were measured by uniaxial tensile tests, and the characterization revealed non-linear and J-shaped stress-strain curves for all hydrogels, similar to those found for native ECM. The mechanical integrity of the hydrogels was monitored during hydrolytic degradation over time.
High performance gelatin/polyethylene glycol macroporous hydrogels for biomedical applications
Dey K.;Agnelli S.;Sartore L.
2018-01-01
Abstract
Hydrogel has been bourgeoning in recent years as a scaffold in the tissue engineering thanks to its excellent ability to mimic natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Driven by enormous potential of hydrogels, we have developed a green, facile and simple synthesis approach to fabricate gelatin/polyethylene glycol (G/PEG) macroporous hydrogels by three steps process consist of gelation, lyophilization and post curing. Poly(ethylene glycol) diglycydyl ether (PEGDGE) was used as a crosslinking agent. The effect of altering the composition on hydrogel structure, mechanical properties, swelling and degradation resistance was evaluated by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) into G/PEG system. Structural features and crosslinking interaction of the hydrogels were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The morphology of the porous hydrogels was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were measured by uniaxial tensile tests, and the characterization revealed non-linear and J-shaped stress-strain curves for all hydrogels, similar to those found for native ECM. The mechanical integrity of the hydrogels was monitored during hydrolytic degradation over time.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
