The current investigation has demonstrated the increased thermal stability and reduced water solubility of gelatin-sugar dispersions cross-linked by UV exposure.
By increasing the melting temperature of gelatin, we have removed a major impediment for use of gelatin in tissue engineering applications.
Since increased cross-link density generally correlates with increased mechanical strength and resistance to enzymatic degradation, it is also proposed that the described methodology enhances gelatin’s ability to serve as a material for cell scaffold applications.
The method of crosslink formation is posited to require the generation of free radicals and the formation of dityrosine between neighboring molecules.
Future work will investigate whether a causal link between tyrosine content and cross-link formation exists.
Through selective UV irradiation of gelatin-sugar dispersions, it should be possible to synthesize physiologically benign cell scaffolds with complex geometries for tissue engineering and possibly organ growth.