A tri-component hydrogel, based on gellan gum (GG), glycerol (Gly) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT), is proposed in this work for soft tissue engineering applications. The FDA-approved GG polysaccharide has been recently exploited as biomaterial because its biomimetic features. Gly is added as molecular spacer to improve hydrogel viscosity and mechanical properties. HNT incorporation within the hydrogel offers the versatility to improve the GG-Gly biocompatibility with potential incorporation of target biomolecules. In this work, hydrogels with different composition ratios are physically crosslinked for tuning physico-mechanical properties. An accurate physico-chemical characterization is reported. HNT addition leads to a water uptake decrease of 30–35% and tuneable mechanical properties with a compressive Young's modulus ranging between 20 and 75 kPa. Finally, in vitro study with human fibroblasts on GG-Gly hydrogels loaded with 25% HNT offered the higher metabolic activities and cell survival up to 7 days of incubation.

Insight into halloysite nanotubes-loaded gellan gum hydrogels for soft tissue engineering applications

BONIFACIO, MARIA ADDOLORATA;DE GIGLIO, Elvira
2017-01-01

Abstract

A tri-component hydrogel, based on gellan gum (GG), glycerol (Gly) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT), is proposed in this work for soft tissue engineering applications. The FDA-approved GG polysaccharide has been recently exploited as biomaterial because its biomimetic features. Gly is added as molecular spacer to improve hydrogel viscosity and mechanical properties. HNT incorporation within the hydrogel offers the versatility to improve the GG-Gly biocompatibility with potential incorporation of target biomolecules. In this work, hydrogels with different composition ratios are physically crosslinked for tuning physico-mechanical properties. An accurate physico-chemical characterization is reported. HNT addition leads to a water uptake decrease of 30–35% and tuneable mechanical properties with a compressive Young's modulus ranging between 20 and 75 kPa. Finally, in vitro study with human fibroblasts on GG-Gly hydrogels loaded with 25% HNT offered the higher metabolic activities and cell survival up to 7 days of incubation.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2017_Carb Pol Gellan HNT.pdf

non disponibili

Tipologia: Documento in Versione Editoriale
Licenza: NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione 3.13 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.13 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
GG_HNT_Carb Pol_accman.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: versione accettata per la pubblicazione
Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.12 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.12 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/186768
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 16
  • Scopus 100
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 77
social impact