Methacrylated Gelatin as an On-Demand Injectable Vehicle for Drug Delivery in Dentistry

Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible engineered material with significant promise for its applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and 3D bioprinting applications. Gelatin is functionalized with terminal methacrylate groups which allow for its photoinducible crosslinking, and thereby tunable properties. Photocrosslinking of GelMA solution in situ allows for fabrication of hydrogels to fit patient-specific defects. Given its favorable biologic properties, GelMA may be used as a carrier for bioactive substances necessary to induce regenerative phenotypes or augment healing, such as growth factors and biotherapeutics. Gelatin is cleaved by cell-secreted enzymes such that its degradation, and subsequently release of bioactive substances, is well-matched to tissue regeneration processes. GelMA may be mixed with a wide array of additives to enhance and improve the specificity of its biologic activity. Here, we present two protocols for novel fabrications and their uses as clinically relevant drug delivery systems. GelMA hydrogels provides a versatile platform for the development of injectable drug delivery therapeutics for broad applications in regenerative dental medicine.