Preclustering Gelatin for Faster-Forming Injectable Hydrogels: A Strategy for Fabricating 3D Hydrogel Scaffolds with...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Injectable gelatin hydrogels are crucial for tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties.
• Slow gelation of unmodified gelatin hydrogels leads to poor cell distribution, hindering their application.
• Achieving rapid gelation under physiological conditions is essential for successful cell encapsulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for rapid gelation of unmodified gelatin hydrogels under physiological conditions.
• To improve cell distribution within injectable hydrogels for tissue engineering applications.
• To investigate the use of gelatin preclustering to accelerate gelation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized tetrafunctional succinimidyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) as a crosslinking agent.
• Induced gelatin preclustering to expedite the hydrogel formation process.
• Evaluated gelation kinetics and cell distribution in the modified hydrogels.

Main Results:

• Gelation time was reduced fivefold compared to unmodified gelatin hydrogels.
• Achieved uniform cell dispersion within the rapidly formed hydrogels.
• The method avoided chemical modification of the gelatin backbone.

Conclusions:

• Gelatin preclustering is an effective strategy for rapid hydrogel formation under physiological conditions.
• This approach overcomes the challenge of uneven cell distribution in slow-gelling systems.
• The developed method offers a promising advancement for cell-laden injectable hydrogels in tissue engineering.