Abstract
The biomedical field still requires composite materials for medical devices and tissue engineering model design. As part of the pursuit of non-animal and non-proteic scaffolds, we propose here a cellulose-based material. In this study, 9%, 18% and 36% dialdehyde-functionalized microcrystalline celluloses (DAC) were synthesized by sodium periodate oxidation. The latter was subsequently coupled to PVA at ratios 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1 by dissolving in N-methyl pyrrolidone and lithium chloride. Moulding and successive rehydration in ethanol and water baths formed soft hydrogels. While oxidation effectiveness was confirmed by dialdehyde content determination for all DAC, we observed increasing hydrolysis associated with particle fragmentation. Imaging, FTIR and XDR analysis highlighted an intertwined DAC/PVA network mainly supported by electrostatic interactions, hemiacetal and acetal linkage. To meet tissue engineering requirements, an interconnected porosity was optimized using 0–50 µm salts. While the role of DAC in strengthening the hydrogel was identified, the oxidation ratio of DAC showed no distinct trend. DAC 9% material exhibited the highest indirect and direct cytocompatibility creating spheroid-like structures. DAC/PVA hydrogels showed physical stability and acceptability in vivo that led us to propose our DAC 9%/PVA based material for soft tissue graft application.
Highlights
Among recent technologies deployed in tissue engineering or regenerative medicine, scaffold creation is a major strategy for the replacement or repair of soft tissues such as skin, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage
Yields of 90–95% were obtained for dialdehyde-functionalized microcrystalline celluloses (DAC) 9% and 18%, while a loss in mass of 40% was observed for DAC 36%
These DAC powders were observed by scanning electron microscopy and quantified by measuring the surface area, the aspects displayed by the cellulose particles show, in Figure 2, a significant fragmentation of the particles compared to the commercial microcrystalline cellulose
Summary
Among recent technologies deployed in tissue engineering or regenerative medicine, scaffold creation is a major strategy for the replacement or repair of soft tissues such as skin, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. The overall goal of a biocompatible scaffold is to promote and drive the cell regenerative response which supports cell signalling toward adhesion, proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition while the material degrades in a controllable and non-toxic manner. Hydrogels should exhibit high porosity, tissue-like water content, injectability; and tunable permeability, degradability and mechanical property. Their nanosized mesh limits nutrients and cellular wastes diffusion, drastically inhibiting cell settlement, attachment and proliferation, as well as neo-tissue formation [2]. Additional macro-porosity is often provided through particle leaching, freeze-drying, gas foaming or electrospinning [3]
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