A biodegradable hydrogel has been made based on high concentrations of
whey protein isolate (WP1). WP1 gels of different compositions were fabricated by thermally inducing gelation of high-concentration suspensions of
protein, and characterized for
compressive strength and modulus, hydration swelling and
drying properties, mechanical behavior change due to
polysaccharide additives, and intrinsic pore
network structure. The gels were shown to be compatible with bone cells and could be used as
bone tissue scaffolds. In addition, WP1 fibers were produced by
electrospinning. Several additives could be incorporated into the WPI gels, including structural additives, growth factors, amino acids, etc. The WP1 hydrogels can be made with
glycerol to increase flexibility and stability. The hydrogels could be used for tissue regeneration, food protection, controlled-release applications (including
drug encapsulation,
dietary supplement release, attractant release in lures,
nutrient release to plants (fertilizers), column packing for compound separation, and membrane development.