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Fabrication Parameter-Dependent Physico-Chemical Properties of Thiolated Gelatin/PEGDA Interpenetrating Network Hydrogels

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The development of three-dimensional hydrogels using polymeric biomaterials is a key technology for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Successful tissue engineering requires the control and identification of the physicochemical properties of hydrogels.

METHODS:

Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel was developed using thiolated gelatin (GSH) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), with the aid of ammonium persulfate (APS) and N,N,N,N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as radical initiators. Each component was prepared in the following concentrations, respectively: 2.5 and 5% GSH (LG and HG), 12.5 and 25% PEGDA (LP and HP), 3% APS/1.5% TEMED (LI), and 4% APS/2% TEMED (HI). IPN hydrogel was fabricated by the mixing of GSH, PEGDA, and initiators in 5:4:1 volume ratios, and incubated at 37 °C for 30 min in the following 6 experimental formulations: (1) HG–LP–LI, (2) HG–LP–HI, (3) LG–HP–LI, (4) LG–HP–HI, (5) HG–HP–HI, and (6) HG–HP–LI. Herein, the physico-chemical characteristics of IPN hydrogels, including their morphological structures, hydrolytic degradation properties, mechanical properties, embedded protein release kinetics, and biocompatibility, were investigated.

RESULTS:

The characteristics of the hydrogel were significantly manipulated by the concentration of the polymer, especially the conversion between HP and LP, rather than the concentration of the initiator, and no hydrogel formulation exhibited any toxicity to fibroblast and HaCaT cells.

CONCLUSION:

We provide structural–physical relationships of the hydrogels by which means their physical properties could be conveniently controlled through component control, which could be versatilely utilized for various organizational engineering strategies.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (2021R1A4A3024237 and 2019R1A2C1084828).

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  1. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Korea

    Sungjun Kim, Yunyoung Choi, Wonjeong Lee & Kyobum Kim

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  1. Sungjun Kim
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Contributions

SK: Conceptualization, Experiments, Data analysis, Illustration works, and Writing the paper; YC: Biocompatibility experiments and corresponding data analysis and Illustration works; WL: BSA loading efficacy and release experiments and corresponding data analysis; KK: Ideas, Supervision, Writing-Reviewing and Editing, Funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Kyobum Kim.

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Kim, S., Choi, Y., Lee, W. et al. Fabrication Parameter-Dependent Physico-Chemical Properties of Thiolated Gelatin/PEGDA Interpenetrating Network Hydrogels. Tissue Eng Regen Med 19, 309–319 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-021-00413-5

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