Preparation and characterization of GelMA/SA/CaTiO3 composite hydrogels

Abstract

To prepare a composite hydrogel composed of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), sodium alginate (SA), and calcium titanate nanoparticles (CaTiO3), and to investigate its physicochemical properties and cellular compatibility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that the GelMA/SA/CaTiO3 composite hydrogel, fabricated via UV and ion cross-linking to form a double-cross-linked network, exhibited a porous structure. An increase in GelMA concentration from 10% to 15% resulted in a diminution of the hydrogel pore size. The compressive modulus of the composite hydrogel was assessed using a universal testing machine. The results indicated that the hardness of the composite hydrogel increased with GelMA concentration, whereas the incorporation of SA led to a significant decrease in hardness. However, incorporating CaTiO3 further improved the hardness of the composite hydrogel at a GelMA concentration of 15%. The effect of hydrogel on the proliferation capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was investigated using the CCK-8 assay. The findings demonstrated that the GelMA/SA/CaTiO3 composite hydrogel has the potential to promote BMSC proliferation further. These results suggest that the GelMA/SA/CaTiO3 composite hydrogel exhibits outstanding mechanical properties and biocompatibility, making it a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering repair.