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Silica‐Gelatin Hybrids with Tailorable Degradation and Mechanical Properties for Tissue Regeneration
Author(s) -
Mahony Oliver,
Tsigkou Olga,
Ionescu Claudia,
Minelli Caterina,
Ling Lowell,
Hanly Ruth,
Smith Mark E.,
Stevens Molly M.,
Jones Julian R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201000838
Subject(s) - materials science , gelatin , scaffold , hybrid material , nanotechnology , nanoscopic scale , self healing hydrogels , regeneration (biology) , tissue engineering , porosity , biomedical engineering , composite material , chemistry , polymer chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biochemistry , biology
Nature has evolved mechanisms to create a diversity of specialized materials through nanoscale organization. Inspired by nature, hybrid materials are designed with highly tailorable properties, which are achieved through careful control of their nanoscale interactions. These novel materials, based on a silica‐gelatin hybrid system, have the potential to serve as a platform technology for human tissue regeneration. Covalent interactions between the inorganic and organic constituents of the hybrid are essential to enable the precise control of mechanical and dissolution properties. Furthermore, hybrid scaffold porosity is found to highly influence mechanical properties, to the extent where scaffolds of particular strength could be specified based on their porosity. The hybrids also demonstrate a non‐cytotoxic effect when mesenchymal stem cells are cultured on the material. Cytoskeletal proteins of the cells are imaged using actin and vimentin staining. It is envisaged these hybrid materials will find a diverse application in both hard and soft tissue regenerating scaffolds.