High performance gelatin/polyethylene glycol macroporous hydrogels for biomedical applications

Hydrogel has been bourgeoning in recent years as a scaffold in the tissue engineering thanks to its excellent ability to mimic natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Driven by enormous potential of hydrogels, we have developed a green, facile and simple synthesis approach to fabricate gelatin/polyethylene glycol (G/PEG) macroporous hydrogels by three steps process consist of gelation, lyophilization and post curing. Poly(ethylene glycol) diglycydyl ether (PEGDGE) was used as a crosslinking agent. The effect of altering the composition on hydrogel structure, mechanical properties, swelling and degradation resistance was evaluated by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) into G/PEG system. Structural features and crosslinking interaction of the hydrogels were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The morphology of the porous hydrogels was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were measured by uniaxial tensile tests, and the characterization revealed non-linear and J-shaped stress-strain curves for all hydrogels, similar to those found for native ECM. The mechanical integrity of the hydrogels was monitored during hydrolytic degradation over time.