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. 2017 Dec 10;18(12):2675.
doi: 10.3390/ijms18122675.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanofunctionalized Gelatin Methacrylate Hydrogels

Kamel Rahali  1 , Ghazi Ben Messaoud  2 , Cyril J F Kahn  3 , Laura Sanchez-Gonzalez  4 , Mouna Kaci  5 , Franck Cleymand  6 , Solenne Fleutot  7 , Michel Linder  8 , Stéphane Desobry  9 , Elmira Arab-Tehrany  10
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanofunctionalized Gelatin Methacrylate Hydrogels

Kamel Rahali et al. Int J Mol Sci. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Given the importance of the extracellular medium during tissue formation, it was wise to develop an artificial structure that mimics the extracellular matrix while having improved physico-chemical properties. That is why the choice was focused on gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), an inexpensive biocompatible hydrogel. Physicochemical and mechanical properties were improved by the incorporation of nanoparticles developed from two innovative fabrication processes: High shear fluid and low frequencies/high frequencies ultrasounds. Both rapeseed nanoliposomes and nanodroplets were successfully incorporated in the GelMA networks during the photo polymerization process. The impact on polymer microstructure was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and enzymatic degradation investigations. Mechanical stability and viscoelastic tests were conducted to demonstrate the beneficial effect of the functionalization on GelMA hydrogels. Adding nanoparticles to GelMA improved the surface properties (porosity), tuned swelling, and degradability properties. In addition, we observed that nanoemulsion didn't change significantly the mechanical properties to shear and compression solicitations, whereas nanoliposome addition decreased Young's modulus under compression solicitations. Thus, these ways of functionalization allow controlling the design of the material by choosing the type of nanoparticle (nanoliposome or nanoemulsion) in function of the application.

Keywords: GelMA; LF/HF ultrasounds; functionalized hydrogel; mechanical properties; nanoemulsion; nanoliposome; tissue engineering.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
GelMA scaffolds after photopolymerization (a) 15% GelMA; (b) GelMA-Nanoliposomes 15%:1.5% (w/w); (c) GelMA-Emulsion 15%:1.5% (w/w).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of Emulsion, Nanoliposomes, GelMA, GelMA-Emulsion, and GelMA-Nanoliposomes. a.u., arbitrary unit.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of 3D hydrogels (GelMA, GelMA-Nanoliposomes, and GelMA-Emulsion).
Figure 4
Figure 4
GelMA degradability GelMA (●), GelMA-Nanoliposomes (▼), and GelMA-Emulsion (■) hydrogels of uniform size were exposed to 2 µg/mL exogenous collagenase. Mass losses (%) were measured during 8 h. Error bars represent standard deviation.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Degree of swelling of based hydrogels (GelMA (●), GelMA-Nanoliposomes (▼), and GelMA-Emulsion (■)) in two different solvents (a: deionized water and b: PBS solution), at 37 °C. Error bars represent standard deviation.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Degree of swelling of based hydrogels (GelMA (●), GelMA-Nanoliposomes (▼), and GelMA-Emulsion (■)) in two different solvents (a: deionized water and b: PBS solution), at 37 °C. Error bars represent standard deviation.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Typical force–displacement curves of GelMA hydrogels: pure GelMA (●) and Functionalized GelMA (▲: GelMA-Nanoliposomes and ■: GelMA-Emulsion).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Amplitude sweeps showing storage moduli (G′) and loss moduli (G″) of the hydrogels performed over the whole strain range at a frequency of 1 Hz.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Frequency sweep test of hydrogels. (■, ●, and ▼) elastic modulus (G′) and (□, ○ and ∇) viscous modulus (G″) at a shear strain of 0.1%.
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