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Gelatin‐Methacrylamide Hydrogels as Potential Biomaterials for Fabrication of Tissue‐Engineered Cartilage Constructs
Author(s) -
Schuurman Wouter,
Levett Peter A.,
Pot Michiel W.,
van Weeren Paul René,
Dhert Wouter J. A.,
Hutmacher Dietmar W.,
Melchels Ferry P. W.,
Klein Travis J.,
Malda Jos
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.201200471
Subject(s) - gelatin , self healing hydrogels , biofabrication , methacrylamide , tissue engineering , swelling , hyaluronic acid , bioadhesive , biomaterial , materials science , chondrocyte , biomedical engineering , chemistry , chemical engineering , cartilage , polymer , nanotechnology , composite material , polymer chemistry , anatomy , monomer , medicine , biochemistry , acrylamide , engineering
Abstract Gelatin‐methacrylamide (gelMA) hydrogels are shown to support chondrocyte viability and differentiation and give wide ranging mechanical properties depending on several cross‐linking parameters. Polymer concentration, UV exposure time, and thermal gelation prior to UV exposure allow for control over hydrogel stiffness and swelling properties. GelMA solutions have a low viscosity at 37 °C, which is incompatible with most biofabrication approaches. However, incorporation of hyaluronic acid (HA) and/or co‐deposition with thermoplastics allows gelMA to be used in biofabrication processes. These attributes may allow engineered constructs to match the natural functional variations in cartilage mechanical and geometrical properties.