Formulation of Hydrogels
Elastosens™ Bio Applications
Hydrogels have been widely used in the biomedical field for developing bioengineered tissues and novel treatments such as wound dressings and drug delivery systems. They are composed of over 90% water and crosslinked polymeric chains and exhibit a pronounced viscoelastic behavior. Collagen, gelatin, chitosan, alginate, fibrin, agarose, PEG, PLGA, PCL are among the most popular. The precise evaluation and control of their viscoelastic properties are often critical in terms of functionality and efficacy.
When hydrogels are used as 3D cell culture environments, their viscoelasticity plays an important role in the cell differentiation, proliferation and remodeling. Similarly, mastering the gel formation kinetics and its final viscoelasticity is crucial for manufacturing processes such as biocasting, 3D bioprinting and electrospinning. The mechanical properties of hydrogels during degradation is also of interest since it plays an important role in applications such as drug release and tissue engineering.
Applications on Formulation of Hydrogel
All cells in the human body are exposed to mechanical forces which regulate cell function and tissue development, and each cell type is specifically adapted to the mechanical properties of the tissue it resides in. The matrix properties of human tissues can also change with disease and in turn facilitate its progression.
Gelatin and hyaluronic acid (HA) are biomaterials widely used in the biomedical research field. HA is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in the body and is an important component of several tissues. HA contributes to tissue hydrodynamics, movement and proliferation of cells, and participates in a number of cell surface receptor interactions.
Cellularized hydrogels have been widely investigated for producing in vitro models of tissues such as skin, blood vessels, bone, etc. These models can be a valuable alternative to animal models used in trials for studying physio/pathological processes and for testing new drugs and medical devices.
Natural polymers such as collagen, fibrin, chitosan, and agarose exhibit superior biological activity when compared to synthetic materials and so, they are often used to entirely or partially compose hydrogels. The formation of a hydrogel is governed by the development of physical or chemical bonds between the polymeric chains and depends strongly on its formulation. The formulation of a hydrogel includes the selection and dosage of the polymer, solvent and crosslinking agent (when present).
Mechanical Testing for Formulation of Hydrogels
ElastoSens™ Bio offers an extensive testing platform to formulate, compare, qualify and control the viscoelasticity of hydrogels used in multiple applications such as tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, drug delivery and hemostatic applications. As the test is non-destructive and the gel is contained in a detachable sample holder, you can follow both short (crosslinking kinetics) and long-term (slow degradation or remodeling) evolutions of the same gel sample. In addition, the system has been designed to allow the application of specific external conditions: the sample can be tested in real time under controlled temperature, UV light and atmospheric inert gases, and exposed to physiological solutions.
Benefits of Contact-Free, Non-Invasive Measurements with the Elastosens™ Bio
- Test non-destructively the viscoelastic properties of bulk hydrogels, 3D bioprinted scaffolds and 3D cell-laden hydrogels.
- Apply programmable thermo and photo (UV) stimulations to deeply analyze your material.
- Follow the evolution of the same sample from formation to degradation non-destructively and over long periods of time.
- Get advanced and personalized Soft Matter Analytics™.
- Accelerate your formulation process while improving repeatability.
- Test bioengineered tissues in a cell-friendly and sterile environment.
- Operate a truly easy-to-use instrument designed for biologists, chemists and material scientists.
- Save time and material for R&D and QC operations.
- Customize your own testing system with up to 5 instruments thanks to the modularity of the ElastoSens™ Bio.
- Optimize your investments with affordable instruments that fit your needs and budget.