Silica–gelatin hybrids for tissue regeneration: inter-relationships between the process variables

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2014-02, Vol.69 (2), p.288-298
• Main Authors: Mahony, Oliver, Yue, Sheng, Turdean-Ionescu, Claudia, Hanna, John V., Smith, Mark E., Lee, Peter D., Jones, Julian R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Foaming; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science; Medical devices; Molecular structure; Molecular weight; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Scaffolds; Sol gel process; Synthesis
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-013-3214-3

Owing to their diverse range of highly tailorable material properties, inorganic/organic hybrids have the potential to meet the needs of biodegradable porous scaffolds across a range of tissue engineering applications. One such hybrid platform, the silica–gelatin sol–gel system, was examined and developed in this study. These hybrid scaffolds exhibit covalently linked interpenetrating networks of organic and inorganic components, which allows for independent control over their mechanical and degradation properties. A combination of the sol–gel foaming process and freeze drying was used to create an interconnected pore network. The synthesis and processing of the scaffolds has many variables that affect their structure and properties. The focus of this study was to develop a matrix tool that shows the inter-relationship between process variables by correlating the key hybrid material properties with the synthesis parameters that govern them. This was achieved by investigating the effect of the organic (gelatin) molecular weight and collating previously reported data. Control of molecular weight of the polymer is as an avenue that allows the modification of hybrid material properties without changing the surface chemistry of the material, which is a factor that governs the cell and tissue interaction with the scaffold. This presents a significant step forward in understanding the complete potential of the silica–gelatin hybrid system as a medical device.