In Vitro Biocompatibility of Red Tomato Cells (Solanum lycopersicum) and Green Tomato Cells (Physalis philadelphica) over hydrogels based on collagen-starch-Mo-MOFs

Abstract

The germination and growth of red tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and green tomato (Physalis philadelphica) plants depends on water availability and micronutrients from the soil. Then, hydrogels based on collagen, starch, and Mo-MOFs were synthesized to provide enough water and micronutrients such as molybdenum and amino acids (histidine, phenylalanine, tryptophan), suitable to allow the growth, proliferation, and migration of red tomato and green tomato cells living over these hydrogels. FTIR and ninhydrin essay studied the main functional groups of hydrogels and their reticulation index, respectively. Also, the MTT test served to measure the metabolism of red tomato and green tomato cells (extracted from seeds) living on these hydrogel surfaces. At the same time, the cell migration of red tomato and green tomato cells was observed when cells were encapsulated into the hydrogels and observed by microscope. The main results show that the hydrogel with Mo-MOF composed of tryptophan presents the best cell viability and cell migration essay, this is indicative that tryptophan is non-cytotoxic and does not disturb the metabolism of vegetal cells, but also, that within this microenvironment vegetal cells from red and green tomato are allowed to form vegetal tissues, and thus germinate quickly in a controlled environment.