A Modular Platform for Cytocompatible Hydrogels with Tailored Mechanical Properties Based on Monolithic Matrices and Particulate Building Blocks.

ABSTRACT: We establish a versatile hydrogel platform based on modular building blocks that allows the design of hydrogels with tailored physical architecture and mechanical properties. We demonstrate its versatility by assembling (i) a fully monolithic gelatin methacryloyl (Gel-MA) hydrogel, (ii) a hybrid hydrogel composed of 1:1 Gel-MA and gelatin nanoparticles, and (iii) a fully particulate hydrogel based on methacryloyl-modified gelatin nanoparticles. The hydrogels were formulated to exhibit the same solid content and comparable storage modulus but different stiffness and viscoelastic stress relaxation. The incorporation of particles resulted in softer hydrogels with enhanced stress relaxation. Murine osteoblastic cells cultured in two-dimensional (2D) on hydrogels showed proliferation and metabo

SUBMITTER: Andree L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10265656 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature