| Title: |
Effect of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Molecular Weight on the Properties of Whey Protein Isolate Hydrogels |
| Authors: |
Daniel K. Baines; Zuzanna Pawlak-Likus; Nikoleta N. Tavernaraki; Varvara Platania; Mattia Parati; Timothy N. Wong Wong Cheung; Iza Radecka; Patrycja Domalik-Pyzik; Maria Chatzinikolaidou; Timothy E. L. Douglas |
| Source: |
Polymers ; Volume 17 ; Issue 12 ; Pages: 1605 |
| Publisher Information: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
MDPI Open Access Publishing |
| Subject Terms: |
whey protein isolate; γ-PGA; polymers; biomaterials; hydrophilic; bone scaffolds; osteogenesis; osteogenic differentiation; tissue engineering |
| Description: |
Whey protein isolate (WPI) hydrogel is a promising candidate as a biomaterial for tissue engineering. Previously, WPI hydrogels containing poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) with a molecular weight (MW) of 440 kDa demonstrated potential as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Here, the study compares different γ-PGA preparations of differing MW. WPI-γ-PGA hydrogels containing 40% WPI and 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% γ-PGA were synthesised. Three γ-PGA MWs were compared, namely 10 kDa, 700 kDa, and 1100 kDa. Evidence of successful γ-PGA incorporation was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Increasing γ-PGA concentration significantly improved the swelling potential of the hydrogels, as demonstrated by ratio mass increases of between 85 and 90% for each 10% variable group. Results suggested that γ-PGA delayed enzymatic proteolysis, potentially decreasing the rate of degradation. The addition of γ-PGA significantly decreased the Young’s modulus and compressive strength of hydrogels. Dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells proliferated on all hydrogels. The highest cellular growth was observed for the WPI-700 kDa γ-PGA group. Additionally, superior cell attachment was observed on all WPI hydrogels containing γ-PGA compared to the WPI control. These results further suggest the potential of WPI hydrogels containing γ-PGA as biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. |
| Document Type: |
text |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym17121605 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/polym17121605 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121605 |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.804632F |
| Database: |
BASE |