What are the factors affecting the gelling property of gelatin?4 answersThe factors affecting the gelling property of gelatin include the presence and distribution of ionisable side chains, pH, charges located on the amino acid side chains, and the concentration of co-solutes. Gelatin hydrogels exhibit different mechanical properties at extreme pH values compared to pH values close to the isoelectric point. The gelation kinetics, transition temperatures, and gel strengths of gelatin solutions can be influenced by the addition of sugars and polyols. Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) can improve the gelling property of fish scale gelatin (FSG) by increasing gel strength, hardness, and chewiness. The use of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) can also enhance the gelling properties of fish gelatin by increasing gel strength and melting temperature. These factors play a crucial role in determining the gelling properties of gelatin and can be manipulated to improve its functionality in various applications.
Why gelatin is used in tissue engineering?4 answersGelatin is used in tissue engineering because of its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, making it an attractive material for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Gelatin is less immunogenic compared to collagen and its precursor, collagen, and retains informational signals that promote cell adhesion and proliferation. Gelatin can be easily modified to obtain various derivatives, allowing for the tuning of mechanical strength and bioactivity. Gelatin-based biomaterials can be achieved through chemical immobilization of specific molecules and physical combination with other biopolymers. Gelatin has been used as the sole material to manufacture tissue engineering scaffolds by electrospinning, demonstrating its high biocompatibility and ability to mimic the extracellular matrix. Gelatin-based tough hydrogels have also been developed for tissue regeneration, providing excellent tensile strength and biocompatibility. Gelatin-based composites with bioactive glass particles have been explored for both soft and hard tissue engineering, showing enhanced tissue formation and unique functionalities. Gelatin hydrogels have also been used in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration, promoting cell regeneration and eliminating inflammatory symptoms.
What is the role of ethanol in gelatin?5 answersEthanol plays a role in gelatin as a crosslinking protecting reagent, inducing coacervation, and inducing gelation. It is used to crosslink gelatin/pullulan composite nanofibrous membranes, improving their mechanical properties. Ethanol induces coacervation in gelatin solutions, resulting in phase separation and impacting the aggregation of gelatin chains. It also influences the morphologies of gelatin coacervates. In the case of serum albumin, ethanol triggers denaturation and subsequent gelation, leading to the formation of albumin hydrogels. Ethanol-induced hydrogels have different physical and mechanical properties, including a reduced fraction of strongly bound fatty acids and increased storage modulus. In the case of whey protein and egg white protein hydrogels, ethanol affects the textural properties by increasing hardness and causing shrinkage. The solvent exchange of water with ethanol also influences the ion concentration and non-covalent bonds within the gel structure.
How is gelatin made?5 answersGelatin is made by the heat denaturation of collagen, which is a protein found in the skin, bones, and meat of animals such as pigs and cows. The process of gelatin production involves extracting collagen from these animal sources and subjecting it to heat denaturation. However, the use of animal sources for gelatin production has certain drawbacks, including health hazards and religious restrictions. As an alternative, research has been conducted to explore plant-based sources for gelatin production, such as agar, pectin, carrageenan, and konjac. Additionally, enzymolysis has been proposed as a method for manufacturing gelatin, which involves pickling the raw materials and carrying out enzymatic hydrolysis. This method offers advantages such as shorter production time, reduced cost of auxiliary materials, and lower water consumption. Furthermore, gelatin can be used to create three-dimensional structures for various applications, including biocompatible material structures.
What is the mechanism of the chelating agent?1 answersThe mechanism of the chelating agent involves its interaction with minerals in coal, such as calcite and dolomite, leading to their dissolution and the subsequent increase in the permeability of coal. The chelating ligands in the agent can bind to cations like Ca2+ and restrain their reactivity, thereby increasing the pH of the injected brine and promoting the release of adsorbed crude oil particles from clay surfaces, resulting in a more water-wet surface of the sandstone rock. The chelating dispersing agent, on the other hand, is prepared by polymerization of monomers like allyl polyoxyethylene ether, acrylic acid, acrylamide, and N-vinylpyrrolidone, and it exhibits good chelating dispersing and anti-scaling functions, making it suitable for dyeing and finishing pre-treatment and dyeing in the textile industry.
What are the effects of gelatin and alcohol on the body?4 answersGelatin has been shown to increase moisture in the skin and decrease reactive oxygen species in the blood. Gelatin also enhances the absorptivity and porosity of hydrogels, improving their properties and hemocompatibility. In addition, gelatin concentration in hydrogels affects cell adhesion, with higher concentrations leading to increased protein adsorption and cell adhesion area. Gelatin fractions with different molecular weights have varying effects on the body. Gelatin fractions with higher molecular weights have greater retention in the circulation and cause more shrinkage of erythrocytes. However, gelatin fractions do not reduce total circulating plasma protein or total circulating hemoglobin, except in one experiment with a high-molecular weight fraction. Gelatin-glycine applied topically and orally has been found to have positive effects on the skin and blood of heavy smokers.