The possibility of using glucose as cross-linking agent in electrospun
fibrous gelatin scaffolds for tissue-engineering applications was explored.
Scaffolds were prepared from gelatin–glucose blends using only
natural, non-toxic substances and simple, cost-effective methods. FTIR
relative absorbance studies indicate that increasing glucose content in gelatin scaffolds efficiently increases the extent of cross-linking up to
about 20% glucose content.Monitoring the cross-linking process showed
that the optimal period of cross-linking glucose-containing gelatin fibres
at 170–175 °C is about 3 h. At about 20% glucose content the fibres
become resistant to enzymatic digestion, a process responsible for physiological
degradation of extracellular matrix in the body, indicating that
up to 20% glucose concentrations can be used to obtain bioresorbable
scaffolds. Fabric-like, easy to handle scaffolds were produced at up to
15% glucose content. Obtained cross-linked scaffolds supported fibroblast
growth and cell–scaffold interactions.