Enhancing the mechanical properties and physical stability of biomimetic polymer hydrogels for micro-patterning and tissue engineering applications

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 59; pp. 161 - 170
• Main Authors: Fathi, Ali, Lee, Sherry, Breen, Aishling, Shirazi, Ali Negahi, Valtchev, Peter, Dehghani, Fariba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biocompatibility; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical materials; Biomimetic hydrogel; Cellular; Exact sciences and technology; Gelatins; Hydrogels; In vitro testing; Medical sciences; Methacrylated gelatin; Micro-patterning; Obstacles; Organic polymers; Photo-crosslinking; Physicochemistry of polymers; Poly(lactide-co-ethylene oxide fumarate); Porosity; Properties and characterization; Solution and gel properties; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Biomimetic hydrogel; Poly(lactide-co-ethylene oxide fumarate); Micro-patterning; Methacrylated gelatin; Photo-crosslinking; Biological properties; Cell proliferation; Photochemical crosslinking; Lactic acid copolymer; Colloidal gel; Biomimetics; Fumarate copolymer; Osteoblast; Biocompatibility; Biomaterial; Photolithography; Patterning; Tissue engineering; Mechanical properties; Ethylene oxide copolymer; Experimental study; In vitro; Gelatin derivatives; Morphology; Preparation; Methacrylate copolymer
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2014.07.011

[Display omitted] •Enhance gelatin stability in PBS via simultaneous crosslinking with a synthetic polymer.•Promote natural hydrogel mechanical properties by this interpenetrating polymer network.•Enable creating micro-pattern in these hybrid hydrogels for cell patterning and long term study. Low mechanical strength and rapid degradation of photo-crosslinkable polymers are the major obstacles for their applications. The aim of this study was to address these issues by fabricating hybrid polymeric hydrogels from a biopolymer (gelatin) and a synthetic polymer. Methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) and poly(lactic-ethylene oxide fumarate) (PLEOF) were photo-crosslinked, using Irgacure and poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate. The optimum hybrid hydrogel was produced when using 200mg/ml PLEOF and 100mg/ml GelMA. These hydrogels possessed porosity in the range of 90%, also comprised of micro (∼20μm) and macro pores (540μm), which are suitable for nutrients mass transfer and osteoblast cell proliferation, respectively. The compression modulus of GelMA-PLEOF hydrogels was more than 200kPa, which is paramount compared to GelMA hydrogels. Moreover, fabrication of hybrid hydrogel substantially enhanced the structural stability of gelatin in simulated physiological environment from one week to more than 28days. In vitro studies showed that primary human osteoblast cells adhered and proliferated into PLEOF/GelMA hydrogel. Additionally, micro-patterns with 10×100μm dimensions were created on the surface of these hydrogels to promote the cellular alignment. These results demonstrated the potential of using this hybrid construct for in vitro regeneration of load-bearing tissues.