Synthesis and microstructural characterization of GelMa/PEGDA hybrid hydrogel containing graphene oxide for biomedical purposes

Abstract

In this research, gelatin methacrylate (GelMa), polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and graphene oxide (GO) were characterized by UV-Vis and FTIR. The UV-Vis output beside the new peaks in the FTIR analysis approved the synthesized materials. The SEM observations indicated that the GelMa concentration had a reverse relationship with the hydrogel pore size and its distribution. Moreover, in GelMa/PEGDA hybrid, a higher ratio of PEGDA refined the hydrogel microstructure considerably. The addition of 5wt% PEGDA to the 5wt% GelMa reduced the pore size from 44μm to 25μm. The pore size of the GelMA/PEGDA hybrid with 10wt% could be adjusted in the range of 5μm to 50μm. Also, the AFM results of GO estimated its layer number about 10 which had been dispersed into the hybrid hydrogel successfully. Therefore, in the GelMA/PEGDA/GO hydrogel, the microstructure could be engineered by different ratios of polymers also the addition of GO could be useful in modifying specific properties. These findings could introduce hybrid hydrogel containing nanomaterials in further advances for biomedical purposes.