Preparation of Photocrosslinked Fish Elastin Polypeptide/Microfibrillated Cellulose Composite Gels with Elastic Properties for Biomaterial Applications

Abstract

Photocrosslinked hydrogels reinforced by microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared from a methacrylate-functionalized fish elastin polypeptide and MFC dispersed in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). First, a water-soluble elastin peptide with a molecular weight of ca. 500 g/mol from the fish bulbus arteriosus was polymerized by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), a condensation reagent, and then modified with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (MOI) to yield a photocrosslinkable fish elastin polypeptide. The product was dissolved in DMSO and irradiated with UV light in the presence of a radical photoinitiator. We obtained hydrogels successfully by substitution of DMSO with water. The composite gel with MFC was prepared by UV irradiation of the photocrosslinkable elastin polypeptide mixed with dispersed MFC in DMSO, followed by substitution of DMSO with water. The tensile test of the composite gels revealed that the addition of MFC improved the tensile properties, and the shape of the stress–strain curve of the composite gel became more similar to the typical shape of an elastic material with an increase of MFC content. The rheology measurement showed that the elastic modulus of the composite gel increased with an increase of MFC content. The cell proliferation test on the composite gel showed no toxicity.

Surface modification and endothelialization of biomaterials as potential scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering applications

“…In addition to synthetic biodegradable polymers, natural biodegradable polymers, such as collagen, 186 elastin, 187 gelatin, 188 silk fibroin, 189 chitin, chitosan 190 and cellulose, 191 have also been widely investigated for medical and pharmaceutical applications, especially for the preparation of artificial vascular grafts and tissue engineering scaffolds. Natural biodegradable polymers usually display good biocompatibility, biomechanical function, physical and chemical properties, and biological properties.…”

Extraction and Characterization of Collagen from Elasmobranch Byproducts for Potential Biomaterial Use

“…Furthermore, the hydrogels showed a stable elastic modulus during the sweep till the rupture point. Nevertheless, the G' recorded on other studies was still short compared to other hydrogels being proposed for cartilage substitution [85,86], and much different to…”

“…Furthermore, the hydrogels showed a stable elastic modulus during the sweep till the rupture point. Nevertheless, the G' recorded on other studies was still short compared to other hydrogels being proposed for cartilage substitution [85,86], and much different to the human knee cartilage tissue that can withstand shear frequencies ranging from 1 to 1000 Hz on a daily basis [87]. Based on the exhibited properties, this shark collagen/chondroitin sulfate hydrogel may be idealized as a regenerative biomaterial instead of replacing the damaged cartilage tissue (substitutive approach).…”

Fabrication of nanocellulose/PEGDA hydrogel by 3D printing

“…They printed the water pump impeller using the stereolithographic resins technique and found that the highly dispersed and closely integrated CNC enhanced the resin. Recently, Teramoto (Yano et al, 2015) from Chiba Institute of Science in Japan prepared photocrosslinked fish elastin polypeptide by intensifying the light-cured hydrogel of fish elastin polypeptide functionalised by the free radical acrylate using microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The results show that the addition of the MFC enhances the tensile property of the hydrogel.…”