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This work aims at investigating intensively the effects of organosilicone species and their dosage on the physicochemical and particularly the in vitro degradation properties of gelatin hybrids. We prepared various porous organosilicone modified gelatin hybrids with epoxy-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and/or glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and further systematically investigated their degradation behaviors in simulated physiological environments. It was found that the chemical composition, thermal stability, crosslinking degree, mechanical properties and porous structure of the gelatin hybrids could be tuned by adjusting the amount of PDMS and GPTMS. More importantly, degradation rates of the gelatin hybrids were reduced with increasing content of GPTMS, implying that the degradation behaviors could be controlled by tailoring the chemical interaction between the gelatin and organosilicone moieties. In addition, gelatin hybrids modified with both PDMS and GPTMS (PGs-GE) were demonstrated as a homogeneous hybridization, and their maximum weight losses met the typical healing period of a normal skin wound. Noticeably, the P1G1-GE hybrid with PDMS to GPTMS molar ratio 1:1 exhibited appropriate weight loss, integrity of pore structure and synchronous dissolution of silicon and protein during the degradation process, indicating a homogeneous degradation behavior. Furthermore, both the original and degraded P1G1-GE hybrid exhibited favorable cytocompatibility in vitro. The findings will be helpful for further insight into the in vivo degradation of gelatin hybrids, suggesting their potential application as skin regeneration scaffolds.

To gain an insight into understanding how the silica network generated from hydrolysis and condensation of silicic acid, derived from sodium silicate, enhancing hydrothermal stability and mechanical properties of the leather, and particularly which active groups playing a main role for interaction of silica with collagen protein molecules, herein, effects of incorporated amino or carboxyl groups on the properties of silicic acid modified gelatin (GE) membrane were intensively studied. We found when lots of amino groups were introduced by adding a modified melamine, the thermal denaturation temperature, uniformity of pore diameter distribution and mechanical strength of GE membrane distinctly increased, while incorporating plenty of carboxyl groups by adding low polymerization degree acrylic acid polymer, no obvious change of performances of GE film was discovered. In addition, utilization of γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane had a positive effect on the porosity and flexibility of GE membrane. Importantly, our results indicated that hydrogen bonding probably played the most important role toward improving performances of porous GE film when treated with silicic acid. These findings are greatly beneficial for developing a chrome-free tanning technology based on silicon containing materials, and are also suggestive for fabricating porous silica-GE hybrid materials using sodium silicate as a precursor.