Gelatin-crosslinked hydrogels for Tissue Engineering applications. A preliminar Study

espanolLos biomateriales juegan un papel esencial en el desarrollo de nuevos sustitutos tisulares ya que proporcionan el entorno tridimensional esencial para promover la adhesion, migracion y proliferacion celular. En este sentido, los biomateriales naturales aportan moleculas biologicamente activas que tipicamente promueven la adhesion y el crecimiento optimo de las celulas. La gelatina es un biomaterial cuyo alto contenido de colageno y cuya red tridimensional interconectada podria contribuir a la generacion de tejidos artificiales similares a los tejidos nativos. En este contexto, diferentes tecnicas de entrecruzamiento quimico han sido utilizadas con el fin de mejorar las propiedades fisicas y mecanicas de los biomateriales de uso en Ingenieria Tisular. El glutaraldehido (GA) es un entrecruzante quimico bien conocido que puede proporcionar materiales con una mejora sustancial en las propiedades de traccion. El objetivo de este articulo es determinar la concentracion optima de GA en hidrogeles de gelatina para determinar la posible aplicacion de estos nuevos biomateriales entrecruzados en la clinica traslacional. A este respecto, se obtuvieron resultados interesantes que podrian ser utiles para disenar andamios con propiedades controladas segun su grado de entrecruzamiento que facilitaria la produccion de productos mas similares a los tejidos nativos. Los hidrogeles de gelatina entrecruzados con GA al 5% mostraron patrones morfologicos adecuados que sugieren una posible aplicacion para la regeneracion del tejido cardiovascular. EnglishBiomaterials play a key role in the development of new tissue substitutes as they provide the essential 3D environment to promote cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. In this sense natural biomaterials offer biologically active molecules which typically promote excellent cells adhesion and growth. Gelatin is a biomaterial whose high collagen content and its interbranching 3D network could certainly contribute to the construction of more native-like tissues. In this context, different techniques of chemical cross-linking have been used in order to improve the physical and mechanical properties of biomaterials for use in Tissue Engineering. Glutaraldehyde (GA) is a well-known chemical crosslinker that can provide materials with substantial improvement in tensile properties. The aim of this article is to test different GA concentrations to crosslink gelatin hydrogels to evaluate the potential application of these new crosslinked biomaterials according to the specific properties of the different tissues in the translational clinic. In this regard interesting findings were obtained that could be helpful to design controlled-properties scaffolds regarding its crosslinked degree that would facilitate the production of more suitable tissue-like products. The proposed 5% GA crosslinked gelatin hydrogels shown morphological patterns and meet the requirements of a first macroscopic and microscopic evaluation which suggests a potential application for the regeneration of cardiovascular tissue.