Binary Polymeric System Based on Fish Collagen and Poloxamer 407: Mechanical and Rheological Analysis for...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Tilapia skin collagen offers regenerative properties and biocompatibility.
• Poloxamer 407 (P407) is a copolymer ideal for stabilization and emulsification.
• Developing novel biomaterials is crucial for advanced pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and optimize a binary polymer system using tilapia skin collagen and P407.
• To evaluate the mechanical and rheological properties of the system for pharmaceutical and biomedical uses.
• To assess the suitability of the developed system for topical applications and 3D printing.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Box-Behnken 3^3 factorial design to analyze binary polymer systems.
• Investigated the impact of temperature, polymer concentration, and component ratios.
• Performed mechanical, rheological, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses.

Main Results:

• The binary polymer systems exhibited pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) behavior.
• A synergistic interaction between tilapia collagen and P407 was observed, enhancing desirable properties.
• The CP12 system demonstrated optimal characteristics for topical application, while CP2, CP8, pCP2, and pCP8 systems showed potential for 3D printing.
• SEM analysis confirmed microstructural features supporting 3D printing suitability.

Conclusions:

• The tilapia collagen-P407 binary system offers synergistic benefits for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
• The optimized hydrogels possess suitable viscoelastic and mechanical properties for topical formulations and 3D printing.
• These findings highlight the potential of the developed hydrogels for innovative drug delivery systems and biomedical constructs.