TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigation of different cross-linking approaches on 3D gelatin scaffolds for tissue engineering application
T2 - A comparative analysis
AU - Shankar, K. Gopal
AU - Gostynska, Natalia
AU - Montesi, Monica
AU - Panseri, Silvia
AU - Sprio, Simone
AU - Kon, Elizaveta
AU - Marcacci, Maurilio
AU - Tampieri, Anna
AU - Sandri, Monica
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - The present study aims to investigate the physical-chemical and biological features exhibited by porous scaffolds for regeneration of cartilaginous tissues obtained through stabilization of 3D gelatin hydrogels by physical (DHT), chemical (BDDGE) and natural (Genipin) cross-linking approaches. The study aimed at comparatively assessing the porous microstructure and the long-term resistance of the scaffolds upon degradation in wet physiological conditions (37°C, pH=7.4). The degree of cross-linking increases as function of incorporation of cross-linkers which was maximum up to 73% for BDDGE. The infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis confirmed the gelatin structure was preserved during the cross-linking treatments. Mechanical properties of the scaffolds were analysed by static and dynamic compression test, which showed different viscoelastic behaviour upon various cross-linking strategies. The biological performance of the scaffolds investigated using human chondrocytes showed good cell adhesion, viability and proliferation, as well as extensive 3D scaffold colonization. Besides, the analysis of gene expression related to the formation of new chondral tissue reported increasing ability with time in the formation of new extra-cellular matrix. In conclusion, out of three different cross-linking methods, the gelatin scaffolds subjected to dehydrothermal treatment (DHT) represented to be the most favourable 3D scaffold for cartilage regeneration.
AB - The present study aims to investigate the physical-chemical and biological features exhibited by porous scaffolds for regeneration of cartilaginous tissues obtained through stabilization of 3D gelatin hydrogels by physical (DHT), chemical (BDDGE) and natural (Genipin) cross-linking approaches. The study aimed at comparatively assessing the porous microstructure and the long-term resistance of the scaffolds upon degradation in wet physiological conditions (37°C, pH=7.4). The degree of cross-linking increases as function of incorporation of cross-linkers which was maximum up to 73% for BDDGE. The infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis confirmed the gelatin structure was preserved during the cross-linking treatments. Mechanical properties of the scaffolds were analysed by static and dynamic compression test, which showed different viscoelastic behaviour upon various cross-linking strategies. The biological performance of the scaffolds investigated using human chondrocytes showed good cell adhesion, viability and proliferation, as well as extensive 3D scaffold colonization. Besides, the analysis of gene expression related to the formation of new chondral tissue reported increasing ability with time in the formation of new extra-cellular matrix. In conclusion, out of three different cross-linking methods, the gelatin scaffolds subjected to dehydrothermal treatment (DHT) represented to be the most favourable 3D scaffold for cartilage regeneration.
KW - BDDGE
KW - Cartilage
KW - Dehydrothermal
KW - Gelatin
KW - Genipin
KW - Tissue engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016925208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85016925208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.11.010
DO - 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.11.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 27836656
VL - 95
SP - 1199
EP - 1209
JO - International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
JF - International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
SN - 0141-8130
ER -