title: Development and characterization of novel agar and gelatin injectable hydrogel as filler for peripheral nerve guidance channels.
abstract: Injectable hydrogels are becoming of increasing interest in the field of tissue engineering thanks to their versatile properties and to the possibility of being injected into tissues or devices during surgery. In peripheral nerve tissue engineering, injectable hydrogels having shear-thinning properties are advantageous as filler of nerve guidance channels (NGCs) to improve the regeneration process. In the present work, gelatin-based hydrogels were developed and specifically designed for the insertion into the lumen of hollow NGCs through a syringe during surgery. Injectable hydrogels were obtained using an agar-gelatin 20:80 weight ratio, (wt/wt) blend crosslinked by the addition of genipin (A/GL_GP). The physicochemical properties of the A/GL_GP hydrogels were analysed, including their injectability, rheological, swelling and dissolution behaviour, and their mechanical properties under compression. The hydrogel developed showed shear-thinning properties and was applied as filler of NGCs. The A/GL_GP hydrogel was tested in vitro using different cell lines, among them Schwann cells which have been used because they have an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration. Viability assays demonstrated the lack of cytotoxicity. In vitro experiments showed that the hydrogel is able to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. Two- and three-dimensional migration assays confirmed the capability of the cells to migrate both on the surface and within the internal framework of the hydrogel. These data show that A/GL_GP hydrogel has characteristics that make it a promising scaffold material for tissue engineering and nerve regeneration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tonda-Turo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, (Turin), Italy.|Neuroscience Institute of the Cavalieri-Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, (Turin), Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambarotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gioffredi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiono
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, (Turin), Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Perroteau
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy.|CNR-IPCF UOS, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciardelli
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D019245:Compressive Strength; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D012038:Regeneration; D012212:Rheology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D020100:Hydrogels; D039823:Iridoids; D005780:Gelatin; D000362:Agar; C007834:genipin
keywords: agar; gelatin; glial-like cells; hydrogel; injectable; peripheral nerve regeneration