title: Enhanced Cellular Activity in Gelatin-Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogels without Compromising Gel Stiffness.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Thai Thanh
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Hoang Thi
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, CT, 06511, USA.
authors.forename: Jung Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yunki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 406-772, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Dong
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D004548:Elasticity; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D014439:Tyramine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005780:Gelatin; C000595209:polyethylene glycol 1000; D014439:Tyramine
keywords: biopolymers; gelatin; hydrogels; poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG); tissue engineering