title: Quantitative contrasts in the photopolymerization of acrylamide and methacrylamide-functionalized gelatin hydrogel building blocks.
abstract: The synthesis and evaluation of gelatin acrylamide as an alternative to the well-established gelatin methacrylamide are reported. High-resolution magic angle spinning NMR is used for the quantitative determination of the chemical cross-linking density. The gelatin acrylamide precursors reveal enhanced cross-linking in terms of reactivity and double bond conversion, resulting in stronger networks. Remarkably, even at very low double bond conversions, ≈5%, gel fractions of ≈40% are obtained. The cross-linked networks are also reviewed in the framework of the rubber elasticity and thermodynamic swelling theories to estimate important nanostructural properties. Preliminary cell tests revealed that highly viable (>90%) cell-laden constructs are obtained.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S4 Bis, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Billiet
authors.forename: Bjorn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Gasse
authors.forename: Elien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubruel
mesh_terms: D020106:Acrylamide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000187:drug effects; D004548:Elasticity; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D058105:Polymerization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D020106:Acrylamide; D005780:Gelatin; C045985:methacrylamide
keywords: gelatin acrylamide; gelatin methacrylamide; hydrogel properties; hydrogels; photocross-linking; radical cross-linking