Polysaccharide freeze-thaw hydrogels designed for biomedical applications

abstract

English

Hydrogels are widely used in biomedical applications due to their high absorption capacity and ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) supporting cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. Their preparation involves synthetic or natural polymers, with polysaccharides like carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) being particularly advantageous due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness. This study explores CMC-based hydrogels combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the plasticizer to enhance mechanical and viscoelastic properties. The stiffness of the resulting material can be adjusted by varying PVA molecular weight and input component ratios. Additional cross-linking via the freeze-thaw method, which facilitates the formation of junction points in the polymer network, can be further optimized by adjusting the number of cycles. Low-molecular-weight PVA hydrogels exhibited injectability and adhesion, making them ideal for 3D printing. This study includes the characterization of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the modified hydrogels and evaluates their suitability for 3D printing applications. Gravimetric stability tests were conducted to identify the most stable modifications, which were subsequently subjected to rheological testing. The goal of this optimization was to develop a hydrogel that not only mimics ECM properties but is also suitable for 3D bioprinting. Artificially prepared matrices could have potential applications as substrates for cell growth monitoring.

hydrogel, carboxymethyl cellulose, 3D printing, freeze-thaw

KONEČNÁ, G.; BRTNÍKOVÁ, J.; CHAMRADOVÁ, I.; VOJTOVÁ, L.

1. 4. 2025

Praha

978-80-907779-4-1

XVI. mezinárodní konference Bioimplantologie a regenerativní medicína

1

54

54

80

https://921c88450d.clvaw-cdnwnd.com/17e12706bb26b88046060a8921d16f31/200000714-ad5cbad5cd/Program_a_sbornik_abstraktu_Bioimplantologie_2025.pdf?ph=921c88450d