Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan.
Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Saga University, Saga 849-8501, Japan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Sep 27;25(19):10439. doi: 10.3390/ijms251910439.
This study reveals the pH-responsive behavior of collagen hydrogels prepared using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation with riboflavin as a photosensitizer. By varying the UV exposure time, we modulated the crosslinking density, thereby influencing the mechanical properties and pH responsiveness. Rheological analysis confirmed successful network formation, whereas swelling studies revealed significant pH-dependent behavior, with maximum swelling at a pH of four and minimal swelling above a pH of six, demonstrating partial reversibility over multiple pH cycles. Mechanical testing showed a pH-dependent elastic modulus, which increased 10 fold from a pH of 6 to 10. Fibroblast proliferation assays confirmed the biocompatibility of the hydrogels, with cell growth positively correlating with the UV exposure time. This research demonstrates the potential of UV-crosslinked collagen hydrogels in biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering and drug delivery, where pH responsiveness is essential.
本研究揭示了使用核黄素作为光引发剂的紫外（UV）辐照制备的胶原水凝胶的 pH 响应行为。通过改变 UV 照射时间，我们调节了交联密度，从而影响了机械性能和 pH 响应性。流变学分析证实了成功的网络形成，而溶胀研究则揭示了显著的 pH 依赖性行为，在 pH 值为四时达到最大溶胀，在 pH 值高于六时达到最小溶胀，表明在多个 pH 循环中具有部分可逆性。机械测试显示 pH 依赖性弹性模量，从 pH 值 6 增加到 10 时增加了 10 倍。成纤维细胞增殖试验证实了水凝胶的生物相容性，细胞生长与 UV 照射时间呈正相关。这项研究表明，在组织工程和药物输送等生物医学应用中，UV 交联胶原水凝胶具有潜在用途，因为 pH 响应性是必不可少的。
