Increasing Thermal Stability of Gelatin by UV-Induced Cross-Linking with Glucose

Abstract EN

The effects of ultraviolet (254 nm) radiation on a hydrated gelatin-glucose matrix were investigated for the development of a physiologically thermostable substrate for potential use in cell scaffold production.

Experiments conducted with a differential scanning calorimeter indicate that ultraviolet irradiation of gelatin-glucose hydrogels dramatically increases thermal stability such that no melting is observed at temperatures of at least 90°C.

The addition of glucose significantly increases the yield of cross-linked product, suggesting that glucose has a role in cross-link formation.

Comparisons of lyophilized samples using scanning electron microscopy show that irradiated materials have visibly different densities.