Research Information System
Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering, vol.45, no.4, pp.519-535, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the potential of gellan gum (GG)-based hydrogels, in combination with silk fibroin (SF) and sodium alginate (SA), as substrates for culturing mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Given the unique responsiveness of mESCs to extracellular matrix (ECM) cues, this research seeks to fill a relevant knowledge gap by examining whether and how these hydrogels can replicate ECM-like environments for improved stem cell culture and differentiation. Methods: Hybrid hydrogels were synthesized using GG at concentrations of 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%, combined separately with 3% SF or 4.2% SA. The hydrogels were characterized for swelling behavior in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.4) and (ABS) (pH 1.2), thermal properties using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), surface morphology through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cytocompatibility via LDH and MTT assays. Results: Hydrogels containing 0.5% and 0.75% GG demonstrated favorable swelling kinetics, cytocompatibility, thermal, and structural properties. DSC analysis revealed that SF reduced, whereas SA increased, the thermal transition temperature. SEM analysis showed that increasing GG concentration enhanced rigidity, with SF contributing to smoother, more flexible surfaces. GG–SF hydrogels promoted higher cell viability, while GG–SA combinations exhibited superior cellular stability. Conclusion: GG-based hydrogels, particularly in hybrid formulations with SF or SA, show promising potential as ECM-mimicking scaffolds for mESC culture. Further studies should explore their in vivo compatibility, degradation behavior, and incorporation of bioactive agents to optimize these hydrogels for regenerative medicine applications.