Multi-Functional Gelatin-Dithiolane Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering

This study reports a series of multifunctional gelatin–dithiolane (Gel-DT) hydrogels that integrate dynamic covalent dithiolane bonds for enhanced mechanical resilience, self-healing, and biocompatibility in tissue engineering. The hydrogels were synthesized through a click-like ring-opening polymerization between thiol and dithiolane groups, forming a reversible yet robust crosslinked network. The Gel-DT systems exhibited tunable stiffness (10–80 kPa), excellent stretchability (>400%), rapid autonomous healing, and sustained cell viability. These materials supported fibroblast adhesion and proliferation, demonstrating potential for soft tissue regeneration and injectable biomedical scaffolds.