IADR Abstract Archives
Composite Hyaluronic Acid and Peptide-based Hydrogels as Scaffolds for Periodontal Regeneration
Objectives: The bone is a hard tissue commonly diseased or fractured in various manners resulting in irregularly shaped defects, whose treatment remains a challenge in reconstructive surgeries. Natural polysaccharide hydrogels, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), have been frequently investigated as potential scaffolds for tissue engineering purposes due to their inherent biocompatibility, high water content, and molecular structure which is similar to that of the natural extracellular matrix. This renders them easily biodegradable and favorable for cell incorporation, and migration. However, HA has low mechanical properties compared to those of natural bone. In the present study, we aim to fabricate biodegradable composite hydrogels containing HA and a short self-assembling peptide which serves as a hydroregulator to enhance the mechanical properties of the HA hydrogel.
Methods: A supramolecular co-assembly methodology was applied to synthesize the composite hydrogels. Different ratios of the building blocks were used in order to control and fine-tune their mechanical properties. The physical properties as well as cytotoxicity of the hydrogels were evaluated using rheology and fibroblast cell cultures analysis, respectively. Hydrogels microscopic characterizations were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy.
Results: Stable and homogeneous hydrogels were obtained. When comparing the different hybrids, the higher the percentage of the peptide in the composite hydrogel, the mechanical features are more pronounced. On the contrary, when the hybrids contain a higher HA ratio, the resulting hydrogel possess a greater viscous behavior. All composite showed a fibrous network morphology in TEM and supported in vitro cell viability.
Conclusions: These novel hydrogels integrate both excellent biocompatibility derived from the natural polymer along with structural controllability via physical modification of the short peptides. These properties support the feasibility of using these hydrogels as functional biomaterials for various applications in periodontal therapy.
Methods: A supramolecular co-assembly methodology was applied to synthesize the composite hydrogels. Different ratios of the building blocks were used in order to control and fine-tune their mechanical properties. The physical properties as well as cytotoxicity of the hydrogels were evaluated using rheology and fibroblast cell cultures analysis, respectively. Hydrogels microscopic characterizations were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy.
Results: Stable and homogeneous hydrogels were obtained. When comparing the different hybrids, the higher the percentage of the peptide in the composite hydrogel, the mechanical features are more pronounced. On the contrary, when the hybrids contain a higher HA ratio, the resulting hydrogel possess a greater viscous behavior. All composite showed a fibrous network morphology in TEM and supported in vitro cell viability.
Conclusions: These novel hydrogels integrate both excellent biocompatibility derived from the natural polymer along with structural controllability via physical modification of the short peptides. These properties support the feasibility of using these hydrogels as functional biomaterials for various applications in periodontal therapy.