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Tuning gelatin-based hydrogel towards bioadhesive ocular tissue engineering applications
Sina Sharifi1, Mohammad Mirazul Islam1, Hannah Sharifi1
1Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Bioactive Materials
|May 3, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed GELGYM, a novel elastic protein-based hydrogel from gelatin. This biomimetic material offers superior mechanical properties and tissue adhesion for diverse biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Gelatin-based adhesives are widely used in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, processability, and ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM).
- Tuning gelatin's viscoelastic and mechanical properties is crucial for applications like ocular adhesion.
- Existing gelatin derivatives, such as Gelatin-methacryloyl (GeIMA), have limitations in mechanical performance and elasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, highly elastic, and biomimetic protein-based hydrogel with enhanced mechanical properties and tissue adhesion.
- To chemically modify gelatin by grafting glycidyl methacrylate for improved performance.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and cellular interaction of the new hydrogel for various biomedical uses.
Main Methods:
- Grafting glycidyl methacrylate onto the gelatin backbone via epoxide ring-opening reactions.
- Utilizing visible light for crosslinking to form the elastic protein-based hydrogel (GELGYM).
- Characterizing GELGYM's mechanical properties (stretchability, tensile stress, compressive strain) and assessing its adhesion to various biological tissues.
Main Results:
- GELGYM exhibits remarkable elasticity, stretching up to 4 times its initial length.
- The hydrogel demonstrates high tensile strength (1.95 MPa) and compressive strain resistance (80%), surpassing GeIMA.
- GELGYM shows excellent biocompatibility, supporting cellular adhesion, proliferation, and migration in 2D and 3D cultures.
- Super adhesion to diverse tissues including cornea, aorta, heart, muscle, kidney, liver, and spleen was observed.
Conclusions:
- GELGYM is a highly elastic and biomimetic protein-based hydrogel with superior mechanical properties and broad tissue adhesion.
- Its excellent biocompatibility and cell-supporting capabilities make it suitable for advanced biomedical applications.
- GELGYM holds significant potential for use in transplantation, tissue adhesives, wound dressings, bioprinting, and drug/cell delivery systems.
