Development and Characterization of Thermoresponsive Double-Network Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering
Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 2024
Abhishek Rajesh Indurkar, Kristaps Rubenis, Boccaccini Aldo R, Jānis Ločs

In this study, a thermoresponsive double-network (DN) nanocomposite hydrogel is developed. The primary hydrogel network comprises Pluronic P123, while the secondary network comprises gelatinmethacrylate (GELMA) and polyacrylamide (PAM). A systematic approach is adopted to develop DN hydrogels. Initially, the impact of Pluronic P123 concentrationon the mechanical properties of PAM-GELMA hydrogel is investigated. Results from the tensile strength and the oscillatory shear tests reveal that an increasing P123 concentration has a marginal effect on the storage modulus while significantly reducing the loss modulus of the PAM-GELMA hydrogel, thereby improving mechanical properties. Notably, DN3 hydrogel containing 7.5w/v% P123 in PAM-GELMA exhibits osteoid matrix-like mechanical properties. To further enhance the mechanical properties, citrate-containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP_CIT) is incorporated in DN3 hydrogel at varying concentrations. At a lower concentration of ACP_CIT (0.75 w/v%), the mechanical properties of DN3-ACP0.75 hydrogel are notably enhanced. Incorporating ACP_CIT in DN3 hydrogel (DN3-ACP0.75) decreases creep strain, rapid stress relaxation, and reduced water uptake capacity while maintaining the thermoresponsive behavior. Finally, an in vitro analysis confirms the cytocompatibility of the hydrogels with MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating the potential use in bone tissue engineering.


Keywords
amorphous calcium phosphate citrate; double network hydrogels; gelatin methacrylate; macromolecular materials; nanocomposite; Pluronic P123; polyacrylamide; shape memory hydrogel
DOI
10.1002/mame.202400177
Hyperlink
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mame.202400177?getft_integrator=scopus&src=getftr&utm_source=scopus

Indurkar, A., Rubenis, K., Aldo R, B., Ločs, J. Development and Characterization of Thermoresponsive Double-Network Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 2024, Vol. 309, No. 12, Article number 2400177. ISSN 1438-7492. e-ISSN 1439-2054. Pieejams: doi:10.1002/mame.202400177

Publication language
English (en)
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