Gelatin methacrylate-alginate hydrogel with tunable viscoelastic properties

Yong X. Chen; Brian Cain; Pranav Soman; Yong X. Chen; Brian Cain; Pranav Soman

doi:10.3934/matersci.2017.2.363

AIMS Materials Science

2017, Volume 4, Issue 2: 363-369. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2017.2.363

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Research article Topical Sections

Gelatin methacrylate-alginate hydrogel with tunable viscoelastic properties

1.
Essen Bioscience Inc. 300 W Morgan Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA
2.
Draper Laboratory: 555 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
3.
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, 900 S Crouse Ave, Syracuse NY 13210 USA

Received: 23 December 2016 Accepted: 07 February 2017 Published: 21 February 2017

Although native extracellular matrix (ECM) is viscoelastic, synthetic biomaterials used in biomedical engineering to mimic ECM typically exhibit a purely elastic response when an external strain is applied. In an effort to truly understand how living cells interact with surrounding ECM matrix, new biomaterials with tunable viscoelastic properties continue to be developed. Here we report the synthesis and mechanical characterization of a gelatin methacrylate-alginate (Gel-Alg) composite hydrogel. Results obtained from creep and compressive tests reveal that the alginate component of Gel-Alg composite, can be effectively crosslinked, un-crosslinked and re-crosslinked by adding or chelating Ca²⁺ ions. This work demonstrates that Gel-Alg is capable of tuning its viscoelastic strain and elastic recovery properties, and can be potentially used to design ECM-mimicking hydrogels.
- gelatin,
- alginate,
- hydrogel,
- viscoelastic properties,
- elastic recovery
Citation: Yong X. Chen, Brian Cain, Pranav Soman. Gelatin methacrylate-alginate hydrogel with tunable viscoelastic properties[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2017, 4(2): 363-369. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2017.2.363

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Abstract

Although native extracellular matrix (ECM) is viscoelastic, synthetic biomaterials used in biomedical engineering to mimic ECM typically exhibit a purely elastic response when an external strain is applied. In an effort to truly understand how living cells interact with surrounding ECM matrix, new biomaterials with tunable viscoelastic properties continue to be developed. Here we report the synthesis and mechanical characterization of a gelatin methacrylate-alginate (Gel-Alg) composite hydrogel. Results obtained from creep and compressive tests reveal that the alginate component of Gel-Alg composite, can be effectively crosslinked, un-crosslinked and re-crosslinked by adding or chelating Ca²⁺ ions. This work demonstrates that Gel-Alg is capable of tuning its viscoelastic strain and elastic recovery properties, and can be potentially used to design ECM-mimicking hydrogels.

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