3D cell culture, including bioprinting, allows for the creation of more physiological cell models by allowing cells to simultaneously interact with integrins on all cell surfaces, resulting in the activation of specific signaling pathways not activated in traditional 2D cell culture methods. Hydrogels are water swollen polymers that allow for the culture of cells in 3-dimensions and can have profound effects on cellular development, differentiation, migration, and function. New areas of tissue engineering such as 3D bioprinting, have utilized UV photocrosslinked methacrylated hydrogel biomaterials (PEGMA, GelMA, HAMA and ColMA etc.) to encapsulate cells to make printable bioinks. The PhotoGel-LAP, Methacrylated Gelatin Hydrogel Kit (CC324: CC324-1, CC324-2) is based upon purified porcine gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), which when photocrosslinked provides a native-like 3D environment for cells. Gelatin derived from denatured collagen retains many natural cell binding motifs such as RGD and MMP sites. In addition to porcine gelatin methacrylate, the kit includes the photoinitiator lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) for users to easily fine tune their photocrosslinking experiments (i.e. altering hydrogel stiffness or gelling speeds). Gelatin methacrylate is produced from porcine, type A, 300 bloom gelatin. Gelatin macromers containing primary amino groups were reacted with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to add methacrylate pendant groups. The gelatin methacrylate achieves a degree of substitution of >70% for maximum crosslinking and range of stiffness.PhotoGel is a registered trademark of Advanced BioMatrix, Inc.
Application: Photocrosslinking is initiated using a 405 nm blue light source.