Effect of mold shape on the microstructure of gelatin sponges for tissue engineering applications

• Published in: Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials 2023-06, Vol.142, p.105832-105832, Article 105832
• Main Authors: Al-Mofty, Saif El-Din, Azzazy, Hassan Mohamed El-Said
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Crystallinity; Gelatin; Gelatin - chemistry; Glutaral; Mechanical compression; Mold shape; Porosity; Sponges; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry
• ISSN: 1751-6161; 1878-0180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105832

Gelatin sponges have been used in several medical applications including tissue replacement, scaffolds, and hemostasis. Each application requires specific parameters that are tuned by the porosity of the sponges. Therefore, changes in the porosity profile of the sponges would change the sponge behavior. In this study, a gelatin solution was prepared and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Afterward, the solution was poured into three different mold structures with different volumes and frozen at a constant freezing rate. Each mold was investigated for its physical characteristics including swelling, degradation, porosity, crystallinity, and mechanical compression. Cube-molded gelatin sponges demonstrated high swelling capacity, degradation rate, and porosity while exhibiting low crystallinity, yield strength, and elasticity. These characteristics are suitable for hemostatic application and tissue regeneration. Therefore, it is recommended to freeze dry gelatin sponge in cuboid-shaped dimensions, for research or industry, to control the porosity and crystallinity of the sponge for the best result in biomedical applications. [Display omitted] •The study investigates the physical characteristics of cubic, cylindrical, and disc molded sponges of different sizes.•A facile method was used to prepare gelatin sponge molds using glutaraldehyde for crosslinking and freeze drying.•The cubic sponges showed the best properties of high swelling rate, porosity, with low yield strength and elastic modulus.•These features are most suited for tissue engineering and hemostasis applications.