biostudies-literatureUnknown11(25)Abdollahi Baghban SThis study deals with the development of an LED-curable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) synthesis <i>via</i> microwave (MW) irradiation with a reaction and purification time-, energy-, and methacrylation reagent-saving approach. To investigate the efficiency of MW irradiation in GelMA synthesis, characteristics of the GelMAs prepared by using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or methacrylic anhydride (MA) <i>via</i> the MW-assisted (MWA) method were compared comprehensively with those synthesized <i>via</i> the conventional heating method. Moreover, MWA reaction conditions were optimized in terms of methacrylation reagent concentrations (<i>C</i>), reaction time (<i>t</i>), and MW power (<i>P</i>). Characterization and assessment of the GelMAs were conducted with ¹H NMR, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy along with physical-mechanical, thermal, and hydrophilicity analysis. The results demonstrated that the MWA synthesized GMA-GelMA hydrogels were possessed of increased methacrylation degree (MD), gel fraction (GF), tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EB), glass transition temperature (<i>T</i> _g), and water contact angle (WCA) as well as decreased swelling degree (SD) values in comparison to those of MA-GelMA and GMA-GelMA hydrogels prepared <i>via</i> the MWA and conventional method, respectively. Enhanced properties of the MWA synthesized GMA-hydrogels suggested an effective methacryloyl conjugation leading to a greater amount of covalent crosslinking density justified by the dipolar moment calculations. Optimal GMA <i>C</i>, <i>t</i>, <i>P</i>, and purification time for a highly crosslinked GelMA hydrogel (MD: 96.1%, GF: 98.3%, SD: 10.11%, TS: 6.7 MPa, EB: 175.2%, <i>T</i> _g: 75.34 °C, and WCA: 72.22°) were found to be a 5 times molar excess over the primary amine groups of gelatin, 5 min, 500 W, and 24 h, respectively. Thus, the optimized MW conditions offer a promising green method to prepare GelMAs for bio applications.RSC advances14996-15009https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8697925biostudies-literatureA highly efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of an LED-curable methacrylated gelatin for bio applications.PMC8697925Ebrahimi MBagheri-Khoulenjani SKhorasani MAbdollahi Baghban SfalseA highly efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of an LED-curable methacrylated gelatin for bio applications.This study deals with the development of an LED-curable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) synthesis <i>via</i> microwave (MW) irradiation with a reaction and purification time-, energy-, and methacrylation reagent-saving approach. To investigate the efficiency of MW irradiation in GelMA synthesis, characteristics of the GelMAs prepared by using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or methacrylic anhydride (MA) <i>via</i> the MW-assisted (MWA) method were compared comprehensively with those synthesized <i>via</i> the conventional heating method. Moreover, MWA reaction conditions were optimized in terms of methacrylation reagent concentrations (<i>C</i>), reaction time (<i>t</i>), and MW power (<i>P</i>). Characterization and assessment of the GelMAs were conducted with ¹H NMR, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy along with physical-mechanical, thermal, and hydrophilicity analysis. The results demonstrated that the MWA synthesized GMA-GelMA hydrogels were possessed of increased methacrylation degree (MD), gel fraction (GF), tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EB), glass transition temperature (<i>T</i> _g), and water contact angle (WCA) as well as decreased swelling degree (SD) values in comparison to those of MA-GelMA and GMA-GelMA hydrogels prepared <i>via</i> the MWA and conventional method, respectively. Enhanced properties of the MWA synthesized GMA-hydrogels suggested an effective methacryloyl conjugation leading to a greater amount of covalent crosslinking density justified by the dipolar moment calculations. Optimal GMA <i>C</i>, <i>t</i>, <i>P</i>, and purification time for a highly crosslinked GelMA hydrogel (MD: 96.1%, GF: 98.3%, SD: 10.11%, TS: 6.7 MPa, EB: 175.2%, <i>T</i> _g: 75.34 °C, and WCA: 72.22°) were found to be a 5 times molar excess over the primary amine groups of gelatin, 5 min, 500 W, and 24 h, respectively. Thus, the optimized MW conditions offer a promising green method to prepare GelMAs for bio applications.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Apr2024-11-12T06:23:59.418Z2024-11-12T06:23:59.418ZS-EPMC86979253542403210.1039/d1ra01269j