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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Gelatin Methacryloyl Granular Hydrogel Scaffolds: High-throughput Microgel Fabrication, Lyophilization, Chemical Assembly, and 3D Bioprinting
Published on: December 9, 2022
Fabrication of chemically cross-linked porous gelatin matrices
Sabrina Bozzini1, Paola Petrini, Lina Altomare
1BioMatLab, Department of Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano - Italy.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to chemically cross-link gelatin, by reacting its free amino groups with an aliphatic diisocyanate.
Methods:
To produce hydrogels with controllable properties, the number of reacting amino groups was carefully determined. Porosity was introduced into the gelatin-based hydrogels through the lyophilization process. Porous and non-porous matrices were characterized with respect to their chemical structure, morphology, water uptake and mechanical properties.
Results:
The physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the porous matrices are related to the extent of their cross-linking, showing that they can be controlled by varying the reaction parameters. Water uptake values (24 hours) vary between 160% and 200% as the degree of cross-linking increases. The flexibility of the samples also decreases by changing the extent of cross-linking. Young's modulus shows values between 0.188 KPa, for the highest degree, and 0.142 KPa for the lowest degree.
Conclusions:
The matrices are potential candidates for use as tissue-engineering scaffolds by modulating their physical chemical properties according to the specific application.
