Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties

Tissue engineering aims to regenerate damaged tissues by replicating the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Injectable hydrogels show promise for therapeutic applications due to being biocompatible, but materials based on polysaccharides often do not have the necessary mechanical strength and stabil...

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Main Authors: A. Moradian, M. Behzadnasab, Z. Bagher, M. Pezeshki-Modaress, M. Zandi, M.Hashemi Tabatabaei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001720
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author A. Moradian
M. Behzadnasab
Z. Bagher
M. Pezeshki-Modaress
M. Zandi
M.Hashemi Tabatabaei
author_facet A. Moradian
M. Behzadnasab
Z. Bagher
M. Pezeshki-Modaress
M. Zandi
M.Hashemi Tabatabaei
author_sort A. Moradian
collection DOAJ
description Tissue engineering aims to regenerate damaged tissues by replicating the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Injectable hydrogels show promise for therapeutic applications due to being biocompatible, but materials based on polysaccharides often do not have the necessary mechanical strength and stability for many applications. This study proposes a solution by creating a blend of photo crosslinkable gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and chitosan (CS), crosslinked using Irgacure 2959 and beta-glycerol phosphate (β-GP). It presents an innovative interpenetrating network (IPN) of GelMA/CS hydrogels formed through covalent and electrostatic interactions using photo and thermal crosslinking. In vitro culturing with olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OE-MSCs) assessed cytocompatibility. The addition of CS and β-GP significantly improved mechanical properties (12.7 times at 0.01 Hz) and increased porosity by 6 %. Hydrophilicity and swelling decreased by up to 66 % in the first hour. Enzymatic degradation showed slower rates with CS and β-GP; after 48 hours, 24 % ± 1.08 of the GM80C20 (GelMA/CS blend) remained. OE-MSCs exhibited enhanced attachment and proliferation on the GelMA/CS hydrogel in comparison with pure GelMA.
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series Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
spelling doaj-art-d589e06c32d84f078441b0cc55ec12602025-08-20T03:45:10ZengElsevierCarbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications2666-89392025-06-011010083410.1016/j.carpta.2025.100834Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological propertiesA. Moradian0M. Behzadnasab1Z. Bagher2M. Pezeshki-Modaress3M. Zandi4M.Hashemi Tabatabaei5Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, P.O. Box, 14975-112, IranIran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, P.O. Box, 14975-112, Iran; Corresponding authors.ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department, the Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBurn Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding authors.Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, P.O. Box, 14975-112, Iran; Corresponding authors.Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, P.O. Box, 14975-112, IranTissue engineering aims to regenerate damaged tissues by replicating the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Injectable hydrogels show promise for therapeutic applications due to being biocompatible, but materials based on polysaccharides often do not have the necessary mechanical strength and stability for many applications. This study proposes a solution by creating a blend of photo crosslinkable gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and chitosan (CS), crosslinked using Irgacure 2959 and beta-glycerol phosphate (β-GP). It presents an innovative interpenetrating network (IPN) of GelMA/CS hydrogels formed through covalent and electrostatic interactions using photo and thermal crosslinking. In vitro culturing with olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OE-MSCs) assessed cytocompatibility. The addition of CS and β-GP significantly improved mechanical properties (12.7 times at 0.01 Hz) and increased porosity by 6 %. Hydrophilicity and swelling decreased by up to 66 % in the first hour. Enzymatic degradation showed slower rates with CS and β-GP; after 48 hours, 24 % ± 1.08 of the GM80C20 (GelMA/CS blend) remained. OE-MSCs exhibited enhanced attachment and proliferation on the GelMA/CS hydrogel in comparison with pure GelMA.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001720Gelatin methacrylateChitosanHydrogelInterpenetrating network
spellingShingle A. Moradian
M. Behzadnasab
Z. Bagher
M. Pezeshki-Modaress
M. Zandi
M.Hashemi Tabatabaei
Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Gelatin methacrylate
Chitosan
Hydrogel
Interpenetrating network
title Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
title_full Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
title_fullStr Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
title_full_unstemmed Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
title_short Photo- and thermal-crosslinked GelMA/chitosan hydrogels: A novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
title_sort photo and thermal crosslinked gelma chitosan hydrogels a novel approach to enhanced mechanical and biological properties
topic Gelatin methacrylate
Chitosan
Hydrogel
Interpenetrating network
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001720
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AT zbagher photoandthermalcrosslinkedgelmachitosanhydrogelsanovelapproachtoenhancedmechanicalandbiologicalproperties
AT mpezeshkimodaress photoandthermalcrosslinkedgelmachitosanhydrogelsanovelapproachtoenhancedmechanicalandbiologicalproperties
AT mzandi photoandthermalcrosslinkedgelmachitosanhydrogelsanovelapproachtoenhancedmechanicalandbiologicalproperties
AT mhashemitabatabaei photoandthermalcrosslinkedgelmachitosanhydrogelsanovelapproachtoenhancedmechanicalandbiologicalproperties