Synthesis of Gelatin/Polyacrylamide/Carboxymethyl chitosan triple-network hydrogels and evaluation of their properties for potential biomedical applications

Multiple network hydrogels are the most widely used materials in biomedical applications due to their optimal biological properties and tunable physical characteristics. Herein, we develop an innovative aqueous-based synthesis of a novel triple-network Gelatin/Polyacrylamide/Carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel. Triple-network hydrogel was synthesized by combining a physically crosslinked gelatin as the first network and a covalently crosslinked Polyacrylamide and Carboxymethyl chitosan as the second and third networks, respectively. The hydrogels with different amounts of N, N & PRIME; methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent were prepared using the photopolymerization technique, and their chemical and physical properties were characterized. The FTIR spectral analysis and NMR analysis confirmed gelatin and CMC chemical modification and demonstrated triplenetwork hydrogel synthesis. Various studies for characterization of the synthesized triple-network hydrogels revealed the tunability of their physical and mechanical properties by changing the crosslinking agent concentration. The synthesized hydrogels exhibited tailor-made porosity, good mechanical strength, high swelling ratio, and high thermal stability. In addition, the results of L929 fibroblast cell viability assays indicated their adequate cell viability and non-toxicity. These findings introduce these hydrogels as promising, great candidates for use in various shapes and an extended range of medical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds, delivery systems, and wound dressings.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel triple-network Gelatin/Polyacrylamide/Carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel was synthesized using an innovative aqueous-based method. The hydrogel consisted of physically crosslinked gelatin as the first network, and covalently crosslinked Polyacrylamide and Carboxymethyl chitosan as the second and third networks, respectively. The physical and mechanical properties of the hydrogels could be tuned by adjusting the concentration of the crosslinking agent. The synthesized hydrogels exhibited desirable characteristics such as tailor-made porosity, good mechanical strength, high swelling ratio, and high thermal stability. Cell viability assays showed that the hydrogels were non-toxic and supported adequate cell viability. Therefore, these hydrogels show great promise for various medical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds, delivery systems, and wound dressings.