Effect of the hydration on the biomechanical properties in a fibrin‐agarose tissue‐like model

Abstract

The effect of hydration on the biomechanical properties of fibrin and fibrin-agarose (FA) tissue-like hydrogels is reported. Native hydrogels with approximately 99.5% of water content and hydrogels with water content reduced until 90% and 80% by means of plastic compression (nanostructuration) were generated. The biomechanical properties of the hydrogels were investigated by tensile, compressive, and shear tests. Experimental results indicate that nanostructuration enhances the biomechanical properties of the hydrogels. This improvement is due to the partial draining of the water that fills the porous network of fibers that the plastic compression generates, which produces a denser material, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Results also indicate that the characteristic compressive and shear parameters increase with agarose concentration, very likely due to the high water holding capacity of agarose, which reduces the compressibility and gives consistency to the hydrogels. However, results of tensile tests indicate a weakening of the hydrogels as agarose concentration increases, which evidences the anisotropic nature of these biomaterials. Interestingly, we found that by adjusting the water and agarose contents it is possible to tune the biomechanical properties of FA hydrogels for a broad range, within which the properties of many native tissues fall.

Generation and Evaluation of Novel Stromal Cell‐Containing Tissue Engineered Artificial Stromas for the Surgical Repair of Abdominal Defects

“…In fact, fibrin‐agarose biomaterials demonstrated to be safe and biocompatible in relevant animal models . In addition, several previous works demonstrated that fibrin‐agarose biomaterials could have appropriate biomechanical properties allowing future clinical use . However, these biomaterials had not been associated to surgical meshes before.…”

Differential expression of GAP-43 and neurofilament during peripheral nerve regeneration through bio-artificial conduits

“…The fibrin–agarose hydrogels used to fill the collagen conduits in the A‐FAH and C‐FAH groups were elaborated following previously described protocols (Carriel et al ., , ; Scionti et al ., ). The clinical outcomes and electrophysiological results obtained in each experimental group of animals have been described previously (Carriel et al ., ).…”

Cell viability evaluation in tissue constructs. A preliminary study

“…Se trata de un polímero natural biodegradable que participa de los procesos naturales de reparación tisular y que posee cadenas fibrilares largas que permiten flexibilidad y una elevada fuerza mecánica (29). Recientemente se ha descrito además que la unión de la fibrina con la agarosa, que es un extracto de alga marina, refuerza las propiedades mecánicas del conjunto y que regulando la hidratación y la presión el biomaterial formado puede adquirir, en un amplio espectro, las propiedades biomecánicas deseadas (9,14,30). Los constructos elaborados con fibrina agarosa y fibrobastos han demostrado asimismo una gran capacidad para constituir estromas artificiales biomiméticos para distintos tipos de tejidos y órganos (8,10,12,14,15,31).…”

“…Como agente inhibidor de la fibrinolisis del biomaterial utilizamos ácido tranexámico (Amchafibrín ® , Fides Ecofarma, Valencia, España) y Cl 2 Ca 1% (p/v) para inducir la polimerización del plasma y la conversión del fibrinógeno en fibrina. Se realiza el control microscópico de la elaboración del biomaterial mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido en un microscopio PHILIPS Quanta 200, siguiendo procedimientos estandarizados (9).…”