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Gels
Special Issues
Hydrogel and Cryogel Scaffolds
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Hydrogel and Cryogel Scaffolds

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 4399

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Katherine R. Hixon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Thayer School of Engineering, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
Interests: tissue engineering; regenerative medicine; biomaterials and scaffolds; craniofacial reconstruction; orthopaedics; critical-size defects; fracture healing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Era Jain

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
Interests: drug delivery; hydrogels; osteoarthritis; immunomodulation; musculoskeletal regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogel and cryogel scaffolds have become increasingly popular for tissue engineering applications due to their unique properties. Both scaffold constructs are formed through the crosslinking of a polymer solution, either chemically or physically. Following crosslinking at room temperature, nanoporous hydrogels possess high water content and are commonly used for drug delivery, cell encapsulation, and cell/tissue engineering. Comparatively, cryogels are crosslinked at subzero temperatures such that the solvent crystals act as porogens. Once thawed, the resulting cryogel matrix is mechanically durable and sponge-like in structure. Through the manipulation of different parameters, including polymer choice, freezing temperature, and crosslinker, hydrogels and cryogels can be tailored for applications in various tissues. The focus of hydrogel and cryogel scaffolds has grown to include tissues ranging from skin to skeletal muscle to nerves, as well as vaccine delivery. Additional research must further expand upon the currently used material types, cell compatibility, and in vivo studies to improve hydrogel and cryogel properties and overall tissue regeneration. Thus, this Special Issue will encompass tissue-engineered hydrogel and cryogel scaffolds targeting a range of tissue types to broaden these unique scaffolds’ applicability to clinical applications.

Dr. Katherine R. Hixon
Dr. Era Jain
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogel
  • cryogel
  • scaffolds
  • tissue engineering
  • regenerative medicine
  • fabrication
  • biomedical application

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 10727 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Efficacy of Manuka Honey-Doped Chitosan-Gelatin Cryogel and Hydrogel Scaffolds in Reducing Infection
by Karina Mitchell, Sreejith S. Panicker, Calista L. Adler, George A. O’Toole and Katherine R. Hixon
Gels 2023, 9(11), 877; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9110877 - 06 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1649
Abstract
Honey has been used for centuries to reduce bacterial infection; Manuka honey (MH) possesses an additional antibacterial agent, Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). However, MH’s physical properties challenge delivery to the wound site. Tissue-engineered scaffolds (cryogels/hydrogels) provide a potential vehicle for MH delivery, but [...] Read more.
Honey has been used for centuries to reduce bacterial infection; Manuka honey (MH) possesses an additional antibacterial agent, Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). However, MH’s physical properties challenge delivery to the wound site. Tissue-engineered scaffolds (cryogels/hydrogels) provide a potential vehicle for MH delivery, but effects on bacterial clearance and biofilm formation demand further examination. MH (0, 1, 5, or 10%) was incorporated into both chitosan-gelatin (1:4 ratio; 4%) cryogels and hydrogels. To assess physical changes, all scaffolds were imaged with scanning electron microscopy and subjected to swell testing to quantify pore size and rehydration potential, respectively. As MH concentration increased, both pore size and scaffold swelling capacity decreased. Both bacterial clearance and biofilm formation were also assessed, along with cellular infiltration. Bacterial clearance testing with S. aureus demonstrated that MH cryogels are superior to 0% control, indicating the potential to perform well against Gram-positive bacteria. However, higher concentrations of MH resulted in cell death over time. These results support our hypothesis that MH release from 5% cryogels would induce reduced viability for four bacteria species without compromising scaffold properties. These outcomes assist in the development of a standard of practice for incorporating MH into scaffolds and the evaluation of biofilm reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel and Cryogel Scaffolds)
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16 pages, 5524 KiB  
Article
Autoclavable Albumin-Based Cryogels with Uncompromising Properties
by Kairui Duan, Nabila Mehwish, Mengdie Xu, Hu Zhu, Jiajun Hu, Mian Lin, Lu Yu and Bae Hoon Lee
Gels 2023, 9(9), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9090712 - 01 Sep 2023
Viewed by 935
Abstract
The development of autoclavable hydrogels has been driven by the need for materials that can withstand the rigors of sterilization without compromising their properties or functionality. Many conventional hydrogels cannot withstand autoclave treatment owing to the breakdown of their composition or structure under [...] Read more.
The development of autoclavable hydrogels has been driven by the need for materials that can withstand the rigors of sterilization without compromising their properties or functionality. Many conventional hydrogels cannot withstand autoclave treatment owing to the breakdown of their composition or structure under the high-temperature and high-pressure environment of autoclaving. Here, the effect of autoclaving on the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of bovine serum albumin methacryloyl (BSAMA) cryogels at three protein concentrations (3, 5, and 10%) was extensively studied. We found that BSAMA cryogels at three concentrations remained little changed after autoclaving in terms of gross shape, pore structure, and protein secondary structure. Young’s modulus of autoclaved BSAMA cryogels (BSAMAA) at low concentrations (3 and 5%) was similar to that of BSAMA cryogels, whereas 10% BSAMAA exhibited a higher Young’s modulus value, compared with 10% BSAMA. Interestingly, BSAMAA cryogels prolonged degradation. Importantly, cell viability, drug release, and hemolytic behaviors were found to be similar among the pre- and post-autoclaved cryogels. Above all, autoclaving proved to be more effective in sterilizing BSAMA cryogels from bacteria contamination than UV and ethanol treatments. Thus, autoclavable BSAMA cryogels with uncompromising properties would be useful for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel and Cryogel Scaffolds)
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22 pages, 5270 KiB  
Article
Temperature-Controlled 3D Cryoprinting Inks Made of Mixtures of Alginate and Agar
by Leo Lou and Boris Rubinsky
Gels 2023, 9(9), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9090689 - 26 Aug 2023
Viewed by 922
Abstract
Temperature-controlled 3D cryoprinting (TCC) is an emerging tissue engineering technology aimed at overcoming limitations of conventional 3D printing for large organs: (a) size constraints due to low print rigidity and (b) the preservation of living cells during printing and subsequent tissue storage. TCC [...] Read more.
Temperature-controlled 3D cryoprinting (TCC) is an emerging tissue engineering technology aimed at overcoming limitations of conventional 3D printing for large organs: (a) size constraints due to low print rigidity and (b) the preservation of living cells during printing and subsequent tissue storage. TCC addresses these challenges by freezing each printed voxel with controlled cooling rates during deposition. This generates a rigid structure upon printing and ensures cell cryopreservation as an integral part of the process. Previous studies used alginate-based ink, which has limitations: (a) low diffusivity of the CaCl2 crosslinker during TCC’s crosslinking process and (b) typical loss of print fidelity with alginate ink. This study explores the use of an ink made of agar and alginate to overcome TCC protocol limitations. When an agar/alginate voxel is deposited, agar first gels at above-freezing temperatures, capturing the desired structure without compromising fidelity, while alginate remains uncrosslinked. During subsequent freezing, both frozen agar and alginate maintain the structure. However, agar gel loses its gel form and water-retaining ability. In TCC, alginate crosslinking occurs by immersing the frozen structure in a warm crosslinking bath. This enables CaCl2 diffusion into the crosslinked alginate congruent with the melting process. Melted agar domains, with reduced water-binding ability, enhance crosslinker diffusivity, reducing TCC procedure duration. Additionally, agar overcomes the typical fidelity loss associated with alginate ink printing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogel and Cryogel Scaffolds)
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