Gelatin methacryloyl − thiolated graphene oxide composites for soft tissue engineering

IF 3.6 3区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Methods Pub Date : 2025-12-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-11 DOI:10.1016/j.ymeth.2025.10.003

Ayoub Shiravandi , Ibrahim Zarkesh , Melina Ghasemian , Mohammad Kazemi Ashtiani , Gholamreza Bayazian , Alimohamad Asghari , Rafieh Alizadeh , Zohreh Bagher , Seyed Mohammad Davachi

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Abstract

Soft tissue engineering represents a transformative solution for regenerating damaged tissues, with the development of advanced hydrogels playing a crucial role in this process. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) has emerged as a promising material due to its biocompatibility and ability to support cell growth; however, its mechanical limitations have driven the exploration of composite hydrogels, with thiolated graphene oxide (tGONS) standing out as a key additive. In this study, we present a novel strategy involving thiolated graphene oxide nanosheets (tGONS) as covalent crosslinkers within the GelMA hydrogel matrix, wherein thiol groups on tGONS react with GelMA’s acrylate groups, enhancing crosslinking and strengthening the hydrogel network. The results demonstrate that incorporation of tGONS at optimized concentrations (≤0.5 mg/mL) leads to a substantial increase in Young’s modulus and gel fraction, along with a marked enhancement in antioxidant activity, evidenced by up to 40 % DPPH and 60 % H₂O₂ scavenging in G1GTII formulations. Despite the increased stiffness, acceptable elongation and high cytocompatibility (>85 % cell viability) were maintained. Additionally, the composite hydrogels showed improved resistance to enzymatic degradation and reduced swelling, offering more precise control over physicochemical properties.These findings highlight the multifunctional advantages of GelMA–tGONS composite hydrogels, positioning them as adaptable and robust scaffolds suitable for applications in soft tissue engineering, including cartilage, dermal, and neural regeneration.

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明胶甲基丙烯酰硫化氧化石墨烯复合材料用于软组织工程。

软组织工程代表了再生受损组织的变革性解决方案，先进水凝胶的发展在这一过程中起着至关重要的作用。明胶甲基丙烯酰（GelMA）由于其生物相容性和支持细胞生长的能力而成为一种有前途的材料；然而，它的机械局限性推动了复合水凝胶的探索，硫代氧化石墨烯（tGONS）作为一种关键添加剂脱颖而出。在这项研究中，我们提出了一种新的策略，将硫代氧化石墨烯纳米片（tGONS）作为GelMA水凝胶基质中的共价交联剂，其中tGONS上的硫醇基团与GelMA的丙烯酸酯基团反应，增强交联并强化水凝胶网络。结果表明，以优化浓度（≤0.5 mg/mL）掺入tGONS可显著提高G1GTII配方的杨氏模量和凝胶分数，并显著增强抗氧化活性，其中DPPH和H2O2的清除率分别高达40% %和60% %。尽管硬度增加，可接受的伸长率和高细胞相容性（>85 %细胞活力）保持。此外，复合水凝胶表现出更好的抗酶降解和减少肿胀，提供更精确的物理化学性质控制。这些发现突出了GelMA-tGONS复合水凝胶的多功能优势，将其定位为适应性强且坚固的支架，适用于软组织工程，包括软骨、真皮和神经再生。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Methods 生物-生化研究方法

CiteScore

9.80

自引率

2.10%

发文量

222

审稿时长

11.3 weeks

期刊介绍： Methods focuses on rapidly developing techniques in the experimental biological and medical sciences. Each topical issue, organized by a guest editor who is an expert in the area covered, consists solely of invited quality articles by specialist authors, many of them reviews. Issues are devoted to specific technical approaches with emphasis on clear detailed descriptions of protocols that allow them to be reproduced easily. The background information provided enables researchers to understand the principles underlying the methods; other helpful sections include comparisons of alternative methods giving the advantages and disadvantages of particular methods, guidance on avoiding potential pitfalls, and suggestions for troubleshooting.