TY  - JOUR
A1  - Löwenberg, Candy
A1  - Tripodo, Giuseppe
A1  - Julich-Gruner, Konstanze K.
A1  - Neffe, Axel T.
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Supramolecular gelatin networks based on inclusion complexes
JF  - Macromolecular bioscience
N2  - Hydrogel forming physical networks based on gelatin are an attractive approach toward multifunctional biomaterials with the option of reshaping, self-healing, and stimuli-sensitivity. However, it is challenging to design such gelatin-based hydrogels to be stable at body temperature. Here, gelatin functionalized with desaminotyrosine (DAT) or desaminotyrosyl tyrosine (DATT) side chains is crosslinked with cyclodextrin (CD) dimers under formation of inclusions complexes. The supramolecular networks displayed at room temperature decreased water uptake (200-600 wt% for DAT-based systems, 200 wt% for DATT based systems), and increased storage moduli up to 25.6 kPa determined by rheology compared to DAT(T) gelatin. The gel-sol transition temperature increased from 33 up to 42 degrees C. The presented system that is completely based on natural building blocks may form the basis for materials that may potentially respond by dissolution or changes of properties to changes in environmental conditions or to the presence of CD guest molecules.
KW  - cyclodextrin
KW  - gelatin
KW  - inclusion complex
KW  - supramolecular polymer network
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202000221
SN  - 1616-5187
SN  - 1616-5195
VL  - 20
IS  - 10
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Blocki, Anna
A1  - Löwenberg, Candy
A1  - Jiang, Yi
A1  - Kratz, Karl
A1  - Neffe, Axel T.
A1  - Jung, Friedrich
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Response of encapsulated cells to a gelatin matrix with varied bulk and microenvironmental elastic properties
JF  - Polymers for advanced technologies
N2  - Gelatin-based hydrogels offer various biochemical cues that support encapsulated cells and are therefore suitable as cell delivery vehicles in regenerative medicine. However, besides the biochemical signals, biomechanical cues are crucial to ensure an optimal support of encapsulated cells. Hence, we aimed to correlate the cellular response of encapsulated cells to macroscopic and microscopic elastic properties of glycidylmethacrylate (GMA)-functionalized gelatin-based hydrogels. To ensure that different observations in cellular behavior could be attributed to differences in elastic properties, an identical concentration as well as degree of functionalization of biopolymers was utilized to form covalently crosslinked hydrogels. Elastic properties were merely altered by varying the average gelatin-chain length. Hydrogels exhibited an increased degree of swelling and a decreased bulk elastic modulus G with prolonged autoclaving of the starting solution. This was accompanied by an increase of hydrogel mesh size and thus by a reduction of crosslinking density. Tougher hydrogels retained the largest amount of cells; however, they also interfered with cell viability. Softer gels contained a lower cell density, but supported cell elongation and viability. Observed differences could be partially attributed to differences in bulk properties, as high crosslinking densities interfere with diffusion and cell spreading and thus can impede cell viability. Interestingly, a microscopic elastic modulus in the range of native soft tissue supported cell viability and elongation best while ensuring a good cell entrapment. In conclusion, gelatin-based hydrogels providing a soft tissue-like microenvironment represent adequate cell delivery vehicles for tissue engineering approaches. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
KW  - mechanotransduction
KW  - hydrogel
KW  - gelatin
KW  - cell encapsulation
KW  - matrix elasticity
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.3947
SN  - 1042-7147
SN  - 1099-1581
VL  - 28
SP  - 1245
EP  - 1251
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  -