The effect of gelatin on the characteristics of polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate hydrogel-based scaffold for application in skin wound healing

Skin, as the first body protective-barrier against theexternal environment, is exposed to myriad wound damages. Inthe cases of severe skin lesions, using from tissue-engineered skinsubstitutes at the wound site would be necessary. In the presentstudy, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and three different volume ratio ofsodium alginate (SA) and gelatin (GE), in the form of 2:2:0,2:1.5:0.5 and 2:1:1 (v/v/v) for PVA/SA/GE hydrogel, have beenutilized to development of hydrogel-based scaffolds. The hydrogelswere fabricated employing freeze-thawing method and then CaCl2solution, as an ionic cross-linker. The final structures wereeventually obtained using the freeze-drying process. Forinvestigation of physical, mechanical and biological performanceof the achieved scaffolds, in-vitro evaluations of gel fraction,swelling ratio, tensile characteristics, biodegradability andbiocompatibility have been performed. The results indicated thatthe swelling ability, as well as degradation rate increased byaddition of GE; however, the gelation percent of materials used inhydrogel decreased from 71.8% to 57.7%. Furthermore, thepresence of GE caused to mitigation of tensile strength; so it wasreduced by about 50% and 87% for proportions of 2:1.5:0.5 and2:1:1 respectively, in comparison to 2:2:0 hydrogel. Besides, theelongation at break decreased by increment of GE; although thegel-like physics required for clinical application was improved.The cell proliferation rate within scaffold structure also increasedin the range of 6.3%-13.9% for 2:1.5:0.5 proportion and 8.9%-20.3% for the ratio of 2:1:1, compared with PVA/SA hydrogelalone, which leading to accelerate cell-induced tissue regeneration.

کلیدواژه ها:

skin ، skin substitute ، scaffold ، hydrogel ، gelatin ، polyvinyl alcohol ، sodium alginate