Abstract
In this work, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) molecules were grafted to silk fibroin (SF) molecules via a thiol–ene click reaction under 405 nm UV illumination for the fabrication of a PEGDA/SF composite hydrogel. The composite hydrogels could be prepared in a short and controllable gelation time without the use of a photoinitiator. Features relevant to the drug delivery of the PEGDA/SF hydrogels were assessed, and the hydrogels were characterized by various techniques. The results showed that the prepared PEGDA/SF hydrogels demonstrated a good sustained-release performance with limited swelling behavior. It was found that a prior cooling step can improve the compressive strength of the hydrogels effectively. Additionally, the MTT assay indicated the prepared PEGDA/SF hydrogel is non-cytotoxic. Subcutaneous implantation of the PEGDA/SF hydrogel in Kunming mice did not induce an obvious inflammation, which revealed that the prepared PEGDA/SF hydrogel possessed good biocompatibility. Furthermore, the mechanism of the gelation process was discussed.
Highlights
It is well known that qualified biomaterials shall possess good mechanical properties and biological compatibility [1]
Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic networks, which are crosslinked via chemical and physical bonds, with the ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water without dissolution [7]
The results indicated that the poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)/Silk fibroin (SF) mixture remains liquid state after a s light illumination
Summary
It is well known that qualified biomaterials shall possess good mechanical properties and biological compatibility [1]. Silk fibroin (SF), the major protein in the silk produced by Bombyx mori, can meet above criteria. Silk fibroin is biodegradable [2] with minimal inflammatory reaction [3]. Silk fibroin has been widely used in the biomedical and clinical fields [4,5,6]. Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic networks, which are crosslinked via chemical and physical bonds, with the ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water without dissolution [7]. Many hydrogels, including natural and synthetic ones, were used as materials for drug delivery [8]
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