Mammalian and Fish Gelatin Methacryloyl–Alginate Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) has been widely studied as a biomaterial for tissue engineering. Most studies focus on mammalian gelatin, but certain factors, such as mammalian diseases and diet restrictions, limit the use of mammalian gelatin. Thus, fish gelatin has received much attention as a substitute material in recent years. To develop a broadly applicable hydrogel with excellent properties, an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel was synthesized, since IPN hydrogels consist of at least two different hydrogel components to combine their advantages. In this study, we prepared GelMA using type A and fish gelatin and then synthesized IPN hydrogels using GelMA with alginate. GelMA singlenetwork hydrogels were used as a control group. The favorable mechanical properties of type A and fish hydrogels improved after the synthesis of the IPN hydrogels. Type A and fish IPN hydrogels showed different mechanical properties (mechanical strength, swelling ratio, and degradation rate) and different cross-sectional morphologies, since the degree of mechanical enhancement in fish IPN hydrogels was less than that in type A; however, the cell biocompatibilities were not significantly different. Therefore, these findings could serve as a reference for future studies when selecting GelMA as a biological material for tissue engineering.

Green Hydrogel Synthesis: Emphasis on Proteomics and Polymer Particle-Protein Interaction

“…To improve the mechanical strength of gelatin-based hydrogels for tissue engineering, Ma et al used photoinitiation in aqueous buffer to synthesize a triple-crosslinked hydrogel from methacrylate-functionalized gelatin and alginate. The triple-crosslinked interpenetrating network consisted of the ionic crosslinking of alginate with Ca 2+ , the chemical crosslinking of methacrylate groups, and covalent imine bonds between alginate and gelatin [ 180 ].…”

In Vitro and In Vivo Biocompatible and Controlled Resveratrol Release Performances of HEMA/Alginate and HEMA/Gelatin IPN Hydrogel Scaffolds

“…Various natural and synthetic polymers and their combinations with different types of inorganic material (hybrids) scaffolds have been studied and recognized as advantageous scaffolding biomaterials [ 6 ]. Among natural materials, gelatin and alginate are attractive polymers due to their natural origin, favorable properties, and availability [ 7 , 8 ]. The composition of scaffolding materials can be finely tuned by varying the ratio of synthetic and natural components [ 9 , 10 ] in order to obtain properties which are as similar to natural tissue as possible.…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Porous, Electro-Conductive Chitosan–Gelatin–Agar-Based PEDOT: PSS Scaffolds for Potential Use in Tissue Engineering

“…The selection of (i) proper techniques and (ii) the right combination of biomaterials hence dictates the success of producing scaffold matrices that are not only electroactive, but also possess excellent biocompatibility and functionality. Apart from the above-mentioned properties, the porosity of the scaffolds has been also reported to play a significant role in the success of conductive scaffolds in these roles [ 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

“…It is widely used in various biomedical fields, especially in tissue engineering, antimicrobial activity, cancer treatment and drug delivery [ 17 ]. Other biomaterials such as gelatin have potential benefits for pharmaceutical applications due to their high biocompatibility and biodegradability, and they are also less antigenic [ 6 , 40 ]. The selection of the base materials was because these materials could provide a supportive environment for tissue regeneration due to their supreme physicochemical features [ 42 , 43 ].…”