| Title: |
Effect of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Molecular Weight on the Properties of Whey Protein Isolate Hydrogels |
| Authors: |
Baines, Daniel K.; Pawlak-Likus, Zuzanna; Tavernaraki, Nikoleta N.; Platania, Varvara; Parati, Mattia; Cheung, Timothy N. Wong Wong; Radecka, Iza; Domalik-Pyzik, Patrycja; Chatzinikolaidou, Maria; Douglas, Timothy E. L. |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
Lancaster University: Lancaster Eprints |
| 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: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
unknown |
| ISSN: |
2073-4360 |
| Relation: |
Baines, Daniel K. and Pawlak-Likus, Zuzanna and Tavernaraki, Nikoleta N. and Platania, Varvara and Parati, Mattia and Cheung, Timothy N. Wong Wong and Radecka, Iza and Domalik-Pyzik, Patrycja and Chatzinikolaidou, Maria and Douglas, Timothy E. L. (2025) Effect of Poly-γ-Glutamic Acid Molecular Weight on the Properties of Whey Protein Isolate Hydrogels. Polymers, 17 (12): 1605. ISSN 2073-4360 |
| Availability: |
https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/230169/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.80D72391 |
| Database: |
BASE |