Self-Healing Elastin-Bioglass Hydrogels

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Aug 8;17(8):2619-25. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00621. Epub 2016 Jul 13.

Abstract

Tailorable hydrogels that are mechanically robust, injectable, and self-healable, are useful for many biomedical applications including tissue repair and drug delivery. Here we use biological and chemical engineering approaches to develop a novel in situ forming organic/inorganic composite hydrogel with dynamic aldimine cross-links using elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) and bioglass (BG). The resulting ELP/BG biocomposites exhibit tunable gelling behavior and mechanical characteristics in a composition and concentration dependent manner. We also demonstrate self-healing in the ELP/BG hydrogels by successfully reattaching severed pieces as well as through rheology. In addition, we show the strength of genetic engineering to easily customize ELP by fusing cell-stimulating "RGD" peptide motifs. We showed that the resulting composite materials are cytocompatible as they support the cellular growth and attachment. Our robust in situ forming ELP/BG composite hydrogels will be useful as injectable scaffolds for delivering cell and drug molecules to promote soft tissue regeneration in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Ceramics / chemistry*
  • Elastin / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Rheology
  • Tissue Engineering*

Substances

  • Bioglass
  • Hydrogels
  • Elastin