Enhanced Cellular Activity in Gelatin-Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels without Compromising Gel Stiffness

Macromol Biosci. 2016 Mar;16(3):334-40. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201500327. Epub 2015 Dec 14.

Abstract

Adhesion and proliferation of cells are often suppressed in rigid hydrogels as gel stiffness induces mechanical stress to embedded cells. Herein, the composite hydrogel systems to facilitate high cellular activities are described, while maintaining relatively high gel stiffness. This unusual property is obtained by harmonizing gelatin-poly(ethylene glycol)-tyramine (GPT, semisynthetic polymer) and gelatin-hydroxyphenyl propionic acid conjugates (GH, natural polymer) into hydrogels. A minimum GH concentration of 50% is necessary for cells to be proliferative. GPT is utilized to improve biological stability (>1 week) and gelation time (<20 s) of the hydrogels. These results suggest that deficiency in cellular activity driven by gel stiffness could be overcome by finely tuning the material properties in the microenvironments.

Keywords: biopolymers; gelatin; hydrogels; poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG); tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cell Survival
  • Elasticity*
  • Gelatin / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Tyramine / chemistry

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Gelatin
  • polyethylene glycol 1000
  • Tyramine