Synthesis and characterization of silk-poly(guluronate) hybrid polymers for the fabrication of dual crosslinked, mechanically dynamic hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: The rapid ionic crosslinking of alginate has been actively studied for biomedical applications including hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering, injectable gels, and 3D bioprinting. However, the poor structural stability of ionic crosslinks under physiological conditions limits the widespread applications of these hydrogels. Moreover, the lack of cell adhesion to the material combined with the inability of proteases to degrade alginate further restrict utility as hydrogel scaffolds. Blends of alginate with silk fibroin have been proposed for improved structural and mechanical properties, but potential phase separation between the hydrophobic protein and the hydrophilic polysaccharide remains an issue. In this study, we demonstrated the synthesis of a hybrid biopolymer composed of a silk

SUBMITTER: Hasturk O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10357961 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature