Gelatin methacryloyl, commonly referred to as GelMA, is a biomaterial derived from gelatin that has been chemically modified with methacrylate groups. These modifications allow GelMA to undergo photopolymerization, forming a hydrogel when exposed to light and a photoinitiator.
The resulting hydrogel has a three-dimensional structure that closely mimics the native extracellular matrix (ECM). This property makes GelMA particularly useful as a scaffold in cell culture and tissue engineering, as it supports cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, the material's mechanical properties, degradation rate, and gelation behavior can be fine-tuned by adjusting the degree of methacrylation and crosslinking density.
Many commercially available GelMAs are inconsistent in terms of quality and reproducibility. To address this issue, TissueFab® Discrete GelMAs have been developed to offer a more controlled and consistent degree of methacrylation, minimizing batch-to-batch variability.
Applications
- Tissue engineering, including bone tissue, cartilage tissue, epidermal tissue, and cardiac tissue
- Regenerative medicine, including injectable tissue constructs and endothelial cell morphogenesis
- Drug and cell delivery in the form of microspheres and hydrogels
- Surface coatings of medical devices and implants to increase biocompatibility and release therapeutic cargo
Features and Benefits
- Biocompatibility: GelMA contains RGD sequences, found in collagen and other natural ECM proteins, which promote cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of a variety of cell types.
- Biodegradability: GelMA contains matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) degradable sites that can be recognized and enzymatically degraded by cells. This allows the encapsulated cells to degrade and remodel the GelMA matrix and repopulate with their own cells and tissues, a major goal for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
- Bioprintability: The TissueFab(R) Discrete GelMAs are widely used in the field of 3D bioprinting due to their unique gelation properties and the ability to print via extrusion and other methods to create intricate cell-encapsulated 3D structures with high cell viability.
- Tunability: The TissueFab(R) Discrete GelMAs are available in a variety of degrees of substitution, which ultimately impact the hydrogel stiffness and mechanical properties and can be used to recapitulate and accommodate different native tissues.
- Specific degree of methacrylation: A narrow peak of methacrylation allows for better reproducibility and low batch-to-batch variability for improved consistency of gel properties and cell behavior.
Properties
Source: Merck
| . |
. |
| Quality Level |
100 |
| Description |
Application: 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering |
| Form |
(powder or chunk(s) or fibers) |
| Color |
white to light brown |
| Storage temp. |
−20 °C |