Evaluation of cross-linking methods for electrospun gelatin on cell growth and viability

Biomacromolecules. 2009 Jul 13;10(7):1675-80. doi: 10.1021/bm900036s. Epub 2009 May 20.

Abstract

The creation of a tissue engineering scaffold via electrospinning that has minimal toxicity and uses a solvent system composed of solvents with low toxicity and different cross-linking agents was investigated. First, a solvent system of acetic acid/ethyl acetate/water (50:30:20) with gelatin as a solute was evaluated. The optimum system for electrospinning a scaffold with the desired properties resulted from a gelatin concentration of 10 wt %. Several different methods were used to cross-link the electrospun gelatin fibers, including vapor-phase glutaraldehyde, aqueous phase genipin, and glyceraldehyde, as well as reactive oxygen species from a plasma cleaner. Because glutaraldehyde at high concentrations has been shown to be toxic, we explored other cross-linking methods. Using reactive oxygen species from a plasma cleaner is an easy alternative; however, the degradation reaction dominated the cross-linking reaction and the scaffolds degraded after only a few hours in aqueous medium at 37 °C. Glyceraldehyde and genipin were established as good options for cross-linking agents because of the low toxicity of these cross-linkers and the resistance to dissolution of the cross-linked fibers in cell culture medium at 37 °C. MG63 osteoblastic cells were grown on each of the cross-linked scaffolds. A proliferation assay showed that the cells proliferated as well or better on the cross-linked scaffolds than on traditional two-dimensional polystyrene culture plates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Gelatin*
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing
  • Methods
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Solvents
  • Gelatin