Synthesis and mechanical properties of double cross-linked gelatin-graphene oxide hydrogels

Yongzhe Piao; Biqiong Chen

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.03.155

Synthesis and mechanical properties of double cross-linked gelatin-graphene oxide hydrogels

Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Aug:101:791-798. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.03.155. Epub 2017 Mar 30.

Authors

Yongzhe Piao¹, Biqiong Chen²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom.
² Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: biqiong.chen@sheffield.ac.uk.

PMID: 28365284
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.03.155

Abstract

Gelatin is an interesting biological macromolecule for biomedical applications. Here, double cross-linked gelatin nanocomposite hydrogels with incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized in one pot using glutaraldehyde (GTA) and GTA-grafted GO as double chemical cross-linkers. The nanocomposite hydrogels, in contrast to the neat gelatin hydrogel, exhibited significant increases in mechanical properties by up to 288% in compressive strength, 195% in compressive modulus, 267% in compressive fracture energy and 160% shear storage modulus with the optimal GO concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and swelling tests were implemented to characterize the nanocomposite hydrogels.

Keywords: Gelatin; Graphene oxide; Mechanical properties; Nanocomposite hydrogel.

MeSH terms

Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
Gelatin / chemistry*
Glutaral / chemistry
Graphite / chemistry*
Hydrogels / chemical synthesis*
Hydrogels / chemistry*
Mechanical Phenomena*
Oxides / chemistry*

Substances

Hydrogels
Oxides
Graphite
Gelatin
Glutaral