Characterization of gelatin hydrogels derived from different animal sources

Gelatin hydrogels are a valid alternative to produce scaffolds, wound dressings, and drug delivery systems. However, the animal source from which collagen is extracted to obtain gelatin and its treatment are often underestimated despite they can influence the properties of the obtained gelatin hydrogels. Here, three gelatin powders derived from different animal sources (i.e., porcine, bovine and cold water fish) are chemically crosslinked by two reactions and their physico-mechanical properties investigated. The non-cytotoxic hydrogels swelled differently in water (i.e., porcine > fish > bovine), which in turn influenced the mechanical properties of the obtained hydrogels, highlighting the importance of properly selecting the gelatin source when preparing gelatin hydrogels.