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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Polyethylene glycol and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation
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Genipin-Crosslinked Gelatin Hydrogels with Controlled Molecular Weight: A Strategy to Balance Processability and

Ángela Castro-María1,2, Juan P Fernández-Blázquez1, Jennifer Patterson1

  • 1IMDEA Materials Institute, 28906 Getafe, Madrid, Spain.

Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 24, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Low-molecular-weight gelatin (LMWG) hydrogels offer improved processability and flexibility for biomedical applications. Crosslinking with genipin yields biocompatible hydrogels with potential for drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Keywords:
biocompatibilitydrug deliverygelatingenipin crosslinkinghydrogelsrheologytissue engineering

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Gelatin hydrogels are promising for pharmaceutical and biomedical uses due to biocompatibility and biodegradability.
  • Their thermo-sensitivity and limited processability hinder advanced applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.
  • Modifying gelatin's molecular weight is a strategy to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To enhance the processability of gelatin-based hydrogels while preserving functional groups for crosslinking.
  • To investigate the structural, mechanical, and biological properties of hydrogels derived from low-molecular-weight gelatin (LMWG) crosslinked with genipin.
  • To evaluate the potential of these modified hydrogels for pharmaceutical formulations, tissue engineering, and controlled-release systems.

Main Methods:

  • Native gelatin was degraded using hydroxylamine to obtain low-molecular-weight gelatin (LMWG).
  • Hydrogels were prepared from both native gelatin and LMWG, then crosslinked using genipin.
  • Characterization included structural, mechanical (rheology), and biological (cytocompatibility) assessments.

Main Results:

  • LMWG hydrogels demonstrated superior processability, remaining liquid at room temperature.
  • LMWG-genipin hydrogels exhibited higher swelling capacity, increased porosity, and improved flexibility compared to native gelatin hydrogels.
  • Cytocompatibility assays confirmed low toxicity and good cell proliferation on the developed hydrogels.
  • Rheological analysis indicated viscoelastic properties and distinct thermo-sensitive behaviors for both hydrogel types.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular weight reduction of gelatin through controlled degradation enhances hydrogel processability.
  • Genipin crosslinking effectively creates stable and biocompatible gelatin-based hydrogels.
  • The developed LMWG-genipin hydrogels are suitable for advanced biomedical applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering scaffolds.