Improvement of hydrogelation abilities and handling of photocurable gelatin-based crosslinking materials

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials Applied biomaterials, 2009-10, Vol.91B (1), p.329-336
• Main Authors: Fukaya, Chie, Nakayama, Yasuhide, Murayama, Yoshinobu, Omata, Sadao, Ishikawa, Ayaka, Hosaka, Yasuo, Nakagawa, Taneaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Cross-Linking Reagents - chemistry; Dental Materials - chemistry; Elastic Modulus; eosin; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) - chemistry; gelatin; Gelatin - chemistry; Humans; hydrogel; Hydrogels - chemistry; Materials Testing; Molecular Structure; Molecular Weight; periodontal regeneration; photo-crosslinking; Photochemistry - methods; Polyamines - chemistry; Regeneration - physiology
• ISSN: 1552-4973; 1552-4981; 1552-4981
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.31406

Three types of eosin‐derivatized gelatins (eosin‐gelatins) with different molecular weights (Mw) of ca. 15 kDa (low‐molecular‐weight eosin‐gelatin, LEG), ca. 30 kDa (medium‐molecular‐weight eosin‐gelatin, MEG), and ca. 95 kDa (high‐molecular‐weight eosin‐gelatin, HEG) were prepared. All the eosin‐gelatins except for HEG dissolved completely in water at 37°C within several hours even at high concentrations of 35 or 40 wt % along with polyamine (poly(N,N‐dimethylaminopropylacrylamide)) to produce photo‐crosslinkable materials. The materials had appropriate viscosity for in situ molding at 37°C and could be handled as a liquid at low temperatures of up to 25°C. Upon photoirradiation for several tens of seconds, the materials were converted almost completely to hydrogels in the desired form with a microporous network structure by the radical coupling reaction. The mechanical strength of the produced hydrogels could be controlled by selecting a particular molecular weight or concentration of eosin‐gelatins. The hydrogels obtained from LEG (40 wt %) or MEG (35 wt %) had elasticity similar to that of goat periodontal tissue. The handling of the photo‐crosslinkable materials at room temperature and their photogelation ability were drastically improved by reducing the Mw of eosin‐gelatin. The potential usefulness of the photo‐crosslinkable materials to periodontal regeneration has been discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009