Tuning Syneresis Properties of Kappa-Carrageenan Hydrogel by C2-Symmetric Benzene-Based Supramolecular Gelators

Syneresis property limits the further application of Kappa-carrageenan (κ-CG) in cell culture scaffold. To address this problem, κ-CG hydrogel is tailored by blending with a C2-symmetric benzene-based supramolecular gelator (B2). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirm the semi­interpenetrating (semi-IPN) structure of the blended hydrogels and their wettability or thermal stability is also found to be improved. Based on the reduced syneresis, the growth and proliferation of the cultured HCT 116 cells on the blended hydrogels is enhanced compared with pure κ-CG hydrogels. This study paves an easy and feasible way to achieve stable and biocompatible κ-CG/B2 blended hydrogels with high water retention and it helps broaden the promising applications of κ-CG hydrogels in tissue engineering.