Type-A Gelatin-Based Hydrogel Infiltration and Degradation in Titanium Foams as a Potential Method for Localised Drug
Hanaa Mehdi-Sefiani1, Víctor Perez-Puyana2, Francisco José Ostos3,4
1Department of Engineering and Materials Science and Transportation, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain.
Polymers
|January 21, 2023
Summary
This study demonstrates a gelatin-based hydrogel
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Titanium foams are promising scaffolds for bone tissue replacement.
- Localised delivery of therapeutic agents is crucial for enhanced bone regeneration.
- Gelatin-based hydrogels offer biocompatibility and tunable release properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate titanium foams as carriers for localized drug and growth factor delivery.
- To investigate the infiltration and degradation-release kinetics of a gelatin-based hydrogel within titanium foams.
- To assess the biocompatibility of the hydrogel system.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of titanium foams (Ti30 and Ti60) using the space holder technique.
- Infiltration of a gelatin-based hydrogel into titanium foams.
- Kinetic analysis of hydrogel infiltration and degradation-release processes.
- In vitro cytotoxicity and cell proliferation assays using fibroblast cells.
Main Results:
- Higher infiltration rate observed in Ti60 foam compared to Ti30 foam.
- Infiltration and release kinetics followed Lucas-Washburn behavior.
- Ti60 foam exhibited faster full hydrogel release (80 min) than Ti30 foam (45 min) due to higher surface porosity.
- Hydrogel demonstrated optimal biocompatibility, with no cytotoxicity and promotion of fibroblast cell growth.
Conclusions:
- Gelatin-based hydrogels infiltrated into titanium foams are a viable system for localized delivery of therapeutic agents.
- Foam porosity significantly influences infiltration and release kinetics.
- The developed system shows excellent biocompatibility, supporting its potential in bone tissue engineering applications.
