Riboflavin-UVa gelatin crosslinking: Design of a biocompatible and thermoresponsive biomaterial with enhanced mechanical properties for tissue engineering.

GALDOPÓROPORA, JUAN MARTÍN; PEREZ, JAVIER CLAUDIO; TUTTOLOMONDO, MARÍA VICTORIA; MORCILLO, MARINA FLORENCIA; DESIMONE MARTÍN FEDERICO

Mar del Plata

Congreso; SLAP 2018 - simposio iberoamericano de polímeros; 2018

SLAP

The main objective of this study is to develop an economic, environmentally friendly and malleable biomaterial fortissue engineering applications. Water and glycerol have been used as solvents for the gelatin hydrogel synthesis.This solvent mixture led to a biomaterial with improved thermal properties. Indeed, a 16°C increase in thermaltransition temperature was achieved. Furthermore, to enhance mechanical properties, riboflavin was used as acrosslinking agent. Chemical crosslinking step was initiated with UV radiation to obtain riboflavin radicalpolymerization of gelatin chains, hence, rheological properties of gelatin hydrogel were improved. Thus, Gelatin-UV-Riboflavin hydrogel showed good swelling and increased mechanical properties, obtaining a novel material fordrug delivery and medical purposes.