Fabrication and characterization of thin gelatin based and albumin based hydrogel coatings on PET inserts for the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Investigator: Ina Sauer (Master Studentin) 
Betreuer: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Aldo R. Boccaccini
Technischer Betreuer: Dr. Kirsten Borchers (Fraunhofer Institut für Grenzflächen- und Bioverfahrenstechnik IGB, Stuttgart)
Hydrogels are gelatin based, collagen based, chitosan based, agarose based or albumin based chemically or physically crosslinked water binding biomaterials, which are similar in structure and properties to the extracellular matrix. Their characteristic properties are good elasticity, biocompatibility and biodegradation. Thus hydrogels usually provide suitable cell adhesion and a low or not existing foreign body response. Hydrogels are already used for drug delivery systems and wound dressing. The aim of this work is to fabricate a thin and homogenous hydrogel layer on a PET insert, to characterize the influence of gamma sterilization on the thickness of the hydrogel layer and their cytotoxic compatibility as well as to investigate the VEGF release using ELISA. Moreover we will check the loading efficiency of VEGF into the hydrogel, the passage of VEGF through the hydrogel layer and the PET membrane. The long-term stability will be studied by incubation with cells and in cell culture medium for a period of up to six weeks. The experimental activities are being carried out at Fraunhofer Institut für Grenzflächen- und Bioverfahrenstechnik IGB, Stuttgart.
