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Stiff gelatin hydrogels can be photo-chemically synthesized from low viscous gelatin solutions using molecularly functionalized gelatin with a high degree of methacrylation

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Abstract

Gelatin is a very promising matrix material for in vitro cell culture and tissue engineering, e.g. due to its native RGD content. For the generation of medical soft tissue implants chemical modification of gelatin improves the mechanical properties of gelatin hydrogels and the viscous behavior of gelatin solutions for liquid handling. We present a systematic study on the influence of high degrees of methacrylation on the properties of gelatin solutions and photo-chemically crosslinked hydrogels. Changes from shear thinning to shear thickening behavior of gelatin solutions were observed depending on mass fraction and degree of methacrylation. Degrees of swelling of crosslinked hydrogels ranged from 194 to 770 % and storage moduli G′ from 368 to 5 kPa, comparable to various natural tissues including several types of cartilage. Crosslinked gels proofed to be cytocompatible according to extract testings based on DIN ISO 10933-5 and in contact with porcine chondrocytes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sarah Queck (IGVT, University of Stuttgart) for rheological measurements on gelatin solutions, Birgit Claasen (Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Stuttgart) for the NMR measurements, Markus Schandar (Fraunhofer IGB, Stuttgart) for helpful scientific discussions, Martin Schenk (University of Tübingen) for the preparation of the pigs, and Veronika Schönhaar (IGVT, University of Stuttgart) for proof reading of the manuscript. The authors thank the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (München), Christian Schuh thanks the Peter und Traudl Engelhorn-Stiftung (Weilheim), and Eva Hoch thanks the Max Buchner-Stiftung (Frankfurt) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Nobelstraße 12, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Christian Schuh, Thomas Hirth, Günter E. M. Tovar & Kirsten Borchers

  2. Institute for Interfacial Engineering IGVT, University of Stuttgart, Nobelstraße 12, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Eva Hoch, Thomas Hirth & Günter E. M. Tovar

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  1. Eva Hoch
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  2. Christian Schuh
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  3. Thomas Hirth
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  4. Günter E. M. Tovar
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  5. Kirsten Borchers
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Correspondence to Günter E. M. Tovar or Kirsten Borchers.

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Hoch, E., Schuh, C., Hirth, T. et al. Stiff gelatin hydrogels can be photo-chemically synthesized from low viscous gelatin solutions using molecularly functionalized gelatin with a high degree of methacrylation. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 23, 2607–2617 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4731-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4731-2

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