Preparation and Characterization of Photo-Cross-Linkable Methacrylated Silk Fibroin and Methacrylated Hyaluronic Acid Composite Hydrogels

Biomacromolecules. 2024 Nov 11;25(11):7078-7097. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00319. Epub 2024 Oct 14.

Abstract

Composite biomaterials with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability are crucial in tissue engineering. In this work, a composite protein and polysaccharide photo-cross-linkable hydrogel was prepared using silk fibroin methacrylate (SFMA) and hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA). SFMA was obtained by the methacrylation of degummed SF with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), while HA was methacrylated by 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AEMA). We investigated the effect of the addition of 1 wt % HAMA to 5, 10, and 20 wt % SFMA, which resulted in an increase in both static and cycling mechanical strengths. All composite hydrogels gelled under UV light in <30 s, allowing for rapid stabilization and stiffness increases. The biocompatibility of the hydrogels was confirmed by direct and indirect contact methods and by evaluation against the NIH3T3 and MC3T3 cell lines with a live-dead assay by confocal imaging. The range of obtained mechanical properties from developed composite and UV-cross-linkable hydrogels sets the basis as possible future biomaterials for various biomedical applications.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials* / chemistry
  • Cross-Linking Reagents* / chemistry
  • Fibroins* / chemistry
  • Hyaluronic Acid* / chemistry
  • Hydrogels* / chemical synthesis
  • Hydrogels* / chemistry
  • Methacrylates* / chemistry
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Tissue Engineering / methods
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Fibroins
  • Hydrogels
  • Methacrylates
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Biocompatible Materials