Mechanical properties and biocompatibility of in situ enzymatically cross-linked gelatin hydrogels.
OBJECTIVE
Gelatin, a degraded collagen, has been widely used as a scaffolding material in tissue engineering applications. In this work, we aimed at the development of in situ, cross-linking, cytocompatible hydrogels by the use of transglutaminase as a cross-linker for potential application in the regeneration of tissues.


METHODS
Hydrogels were prepared from gelatin of different concentrations and bloom degree (175 (G175) or 300 (G300) bloom gelatin) and cross-linked with various amounts of microbial transglutaminase (mTG) at 37°C. Mechanical properties and cross-linking degree were studied by rheology and swelling experiments. Four hydrogels with different stiffness were selected for studies with embedded human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs).


RESULTS
Hydrogels were obtained with storage modulus (G') values between 11 (±1) Pa and 1,800 (±200) Pa with gelation times between 80 (±6) and 450 (±36) seconds. G300 cross-linked gelatin hydrogels displayed higher gel stiffness, lower swelling ratio and gelled more rapidly compared to the hydrogels prepared from G175. Stiffer hydrogels (50 and 200 Pa) showed greater ability to support the proliferation of hASCs than softer ones (11 and 30 Pa). The highest cell proliferation was observed with a hydrogel of 200 Pa modulus.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, transglutaminase cross-linked gelatin hydrogels might be suitable as injectable hydrogels for the engineering of musculoskeletal and other types of connective tissues.
Department of Downstream Processing, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) - Germany.
Nada Z
NZ
Alarake
Department of Downstream Processing, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) - Germany.
Patrick
P
Frohberg
Department of Biomedical Materials, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) - Germany.|Interdisciplinary Center for Material Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) - Germany.
Thomas
T
Groth
Department of Downstream Processing, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) - Germany.
Markus
M
Pietzsch
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D012038:Regeneration; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D005780:Gelatin; D011503:Transglutaminases