Different Ratios Of Chitosan Research Articles

Anti-proliferative, antimicrobial, DFT calculations, and molecular docking 3D scaffold based on sodium alginate, chitosan, neomycin sulfate and hydroxyapatite

3D multifunctional scaffold has been designed based on Cs/SA/NS/NPHA. Nanoparticles hydroxyapatite (NPHA) was prepared via precipitation method of sodium dihydrogen phosphate in presence calcium chloride. Different ratios of Chitosan (CS)/Sodium Alginate (SA) were used to prepare Cs/SA scaffolds in presence of CaCl2 as a cross linker. NPHA was incorporated in CS/SA scaffold and neomycin sulfate (NS) was added as an antimicrobial agent. The structure and surface morphology of the scaffolds were investigated via infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Additionally, Antimicrobial activity of the scaffold has evaluated against Gram- negative and Gram- positive bacteria. The result showed promising antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Furthermore, cytotoxicity against MG63 osteosarcoma cell and fibroblast normal cell line has investigated. The result showed anti-proliferative against MG63. DFT calculations and molecular docking were used to study the reactivity of the compounds. The results exhibited that Cs/SA/NS/NPHA is potent expected to be used in bone tissue regeneration.

Use Of Chitosan-Natural Zeolite Composite As Membrane Separator In Surimi Wastewater Microbial Fuel Cell

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a technology that uses exoelectrogenic bacteria to produce electrical energy. This study aims to determine the effect of the ratio of natural chitosan and zeolite on the characteristics of the chitosan / zeolite composite membrane as a PEM separator in MFC, to determine the performance of MFC in producing electricity, and to determine the performance of reducing the organic load of fishery wastewater in MFC technology applications. The chitosan/zeolite separator membrane was made with different ratio of chitosan and natural zeolite 1: 3, 1:1, 3: 1, and without a membrane (w/w). The chitosan / zeolite separator membrane is a proton exchange membrane that can transfer 20% positive ions. Separator membrane with a ratio of 3: 1 resulted in a tensile strength value of 0,855 MPa and a water uptake value of 1,8%, and ratio of 1:1 produced the highest conductivity value of 10,57 S/cm, the highest electric voltage was 0,59 V, the highest electric current was 0,51 mA, and the highest electric power was 0,30 mW. The values of COD, BOD, and TAN decreased by 45%, 46%, and 92%, and the pH value increased to 8,4.

Fluocinolone Acetonide Loaded Chitosan Nanofiber Scaffolds for Treatment of Ocular Disorders: In Vitro Characterization, Ex-Vivo Corneal and Ex-Vivo Scleral Evaluation

Purpose Drugs administered in the ocular region need to overcome ocular barriers without permanently damaging the ocular tissues. Moreover, ocular disorders of the posterior segment are more difficult to treat due to invasive procedures required to reach the posterior segment. Hence, to treat posterior disorders of the eye an attempt was made to develop nanofiber (NF) scaffolds for effective management of chronic posterior uveitis. Nanofibers (NFs) were formulated using the electrospinning technique. Methods NF scaffolds were formulated using the electrospinning technique. The effect of different concentrations of chitosan on NF production was studied by considering different ratios of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Physicochemical characterization of NFs was performed to evaluate developed NFs. Results The optimized NF scaffold had a diameter of 129 ± 3 nm. NF scaffolds were found to have a tensile strength of 0.2882 ± 0.078 N/m2, thickness of 0.16 ± 0.05 mm, and drug entrapment of 95 ± 2.0%. The bioadhesive strength of the NF was found to be 257.3 ± 0.04 g/cm2 indicating high bioadhesion of NFs to the ocular tissues. The in-vitro, ex-vivo corneal and ex-vivo scleral drug release after 12 h was found to be 78.4 ± 1.0%, 65.33 ± 0.2% and 78.41 ± 1.0%, respectively. Ex-vivo whole eye model experiment indicated a concentration of about 40 ± 1.75% of drug permeated from corneal layer to the vitreous humor after 12 h. The Hen’s egg test-chorioallantoic membrane study (HET-CAM) study and in-vitro cytotoxicity study on Statens Seruminstitut Rabbit Cornea (SIRC) cell lines indicated that the developed drug-loaded NF scaffolds were found to be non-toxic as compared to pure drug, thus suggesting cytocompatibility. Conclusion Results of HET-CAM, sterility and ex-vivo studies indicate that the developed formulation is non-toxic, sterile, and effective for the ocular delivery of fluocinolone acetonide to the posterior segment of eye.

DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION, AND EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE POROUS SCAFFOLDS LOADED WITH NATURAL VANILLIN

Objective: The study's objective is to create biodegradable porous scaffolds that are filled with natural vanillin and assess their in vitro antibacterial activity. Methods: Scaffolds were fabricated by blending different ratios of chitosan and gelatin along with vanillin using the freeze-drying method. Then the following characterization and evaluation of scaffolds, such as FTIR, SEM, porosity, swelling behaviour, degradation studies, in vitro drug release, and antibacterial studies, were carried out. Results: All of the scaffolds that were created had heterogeneous, well-connected pores and were pale yellow in color. This was validated by SEM, where the porosity is greater than 80% and the mean pore size ranges from 105.25±6.35 µm to 188.58±7.51 µm. With an increase in gelatin concentration, all of the scaffolds showed the maximum water absorption and retention capabilities of 760.15%±4.38% and 664.73%±5.82%. In the 7-day degradation investigation, all samples lost close to 60% of their mass. In the formulation CG11, the vanillin was released gradually over about 96 h. According to the present study, the developed scaffolds CG13-A and CG13-B, as well as CG11-A and CG11-B, displayed a higher zone of inhibition. Conclusion: Due to its potent antibacterial capabilities, it may be inferred from the current research that vanillin clothed in chitosan-gelatin scaffolds would be a superior option for treating various wound infections, including diabetic wounds.

Taste masking and stability improvement of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) by nanoencapsulation using chitosan and gelatin

In this study, red ginseng extract (RGE)-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by ionic gelation between chitosan (CS) and gelatin (Gel), and the physical characteristics of the RGE-loaded CS-Gel NPs (RGE-CS/Gel NPs), including particle size and polydispersity index (PDI), using different ratios of CS and Gel were examined. The particle size and PDI were 398.1 ± 41.3 nm and 0.433 ± 0.033, respectively for the optimal ratio of CS (0.075 mg/mL) and Gel (0.05 mg/mL). In vitro taste masking test and in vivo sensory evaluation using 10 panelists demonstrated that the CS/Gel NPs significantly reduced the bitter taste of RGE. Additionally, the CS/Gel NPs improved the thermal and acid stabilities, which were almost 6 and 8 times higher than those in the free RGE (p < 0.05), respectively. Likewise, our findings revealed that the RGE-CS/Gel NPs effectively maintain their inhibitory function against platelet aggregation (76.30 %) in an acidic environment. Therefore, the CS/Gel NPs can be used as a potential delivery system to mask the bitterness and improve the stability of RGE, which may enhance its application as a more palatable functional food ingredient with high anti-platelet activity.

Chitosan- (Prunus avium) Gum Nanocapsules Loaded with Orange Peel Extract

The orange peel extract (OE) is an additive material that has been used widely as a natural antioxidant source and bioactive compounds in Pharmaceutical and food sector. The poor stability and degradation of this extract were considered problems in the industry. New technologies have been introduced recently to prevent this degradation as encapsulation.&#x0D; In this work, chitosan (CS) and Prunus avium gum (PG) were proposed as promising based materials for encapsulation OE via ionic gelation method. The effect of different ratios of CS: PG and CS: OE on encapsulation efficiency (EE %) and the capsules size were investigated. The EE% of CS-PG was ranged from 60.63 to 87.06 % with a size range of 40 to 95nm according to Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) images. The formulation with the highest EE% was chosen to be characterized by FTIR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and in vitro release study. The FTIR spectra confirm the cross-linking between the NH3+ group in CS and the negative functional group (-COO-) in PG. According to SEM micrographs, the capsules showed a spongy porous structure. The in vitro release study indicated that the release of OE from CS-PG matrix in the acidic and neutral medium was 55.15 and 52.67% respectively after incubation for 240 minutes. This study found that CS-PG can be used as an effective wall matrix for encapsulating OE and delivering it into the gastrointestinal system.

Blend composition effect on the diameter of electrospun chitosan (CHT)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanofibers

This work reports how the different ratios of chitosan (CHT) and (PEO), the needle-to-collector distance, and the voltage of the applied potential affected the diameter of the fibers. The results suggested that the experimental conditions fell within an instability region, not following theoretical behaviors. However, the statistical analysis provided information regarding which conditions were statistically equal and which ones were different at 95%. The best condition was a CHT/PEO ratio of 80/20, a distance of 20 cm, and a voltage of 20 kV. These electrospun nanofibers had a smooth and homogeneous surface and a diameter of (320 ± 8) nm. The incorporation of neomycin sulfate (NS) led to rough and clustered fibers due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the drug and the polymers. The crystallinity decreased from 0.82 (CHT/PEO 80/20) to 0.13 (CHT/PEO 80/20-NS) confirming the absorption of the drug. The CHT/PEO 80/20-NS displayed improved antimicrobial activity, and the controlled release assay indicated a two-stage release profile attractive for the treatment of skin wounds, releasing higher amounts at first, and sustaining the release for 4 h. These nanofibrous mats would be potentially suitable for wound dressing purposes.

Chitosan/dialdehyde starch hybrid in situ forming hydrogel for ocular delivery of betamethasone

Ocular drug therapy remains to be a major pharmaceutical challenge due to the presence of ocular barriers. The development of novel ophthalmic delivery systems is an immense necessity to overcome such biological and physiological barriers. Hydrophilic gels are considered an ideal candidate for such purposes owing to their favorable characteristics such as rapid in situ gelation, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and high encapsulation capacity. In the current study, we report on the development of an in situ forming composite hydrogel formulated using natural polymers, including dialdehyde starch (DAS) and chitosan (CS), to deliver betamethasone to the eye. The modification of starch and composite hydrogel structure was evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The effect of the different ratios of CS to DAS on the gelation time, surface microstructure morphology, swelling ratio, rheological behavior, and in vitro degradation was evaluated. Our findings demonstrated that the high content of DAS could result in fast gelation, improved mechanical strength, larger pore size, and optimized degradation with a fast in vitro and ex vivo release rate. Furthermore, the developed composite hydrogel displayed excellent biocompatibility in cell models in vitro. Altogether, the obtained data suggest that the developed hydrogel-based delivery system could be well suited for local administration of betamethasone to control ocular inflammation and consequent complications.

Immobilization of urease enzyme on chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol electrospun nanofibers

Electrospun nanofibers have gained much attention for enzyme immobilization due to their high surface-to-volume ratio. In this study, urease was immobilized on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers by both adsorption and crosslinking methods. In order to obtain nanofibers with more desirable properties, solutions with different ratios of chitosan and PVA were electrospun and crosslinked using glutaraldehyde. Comparing SEM images of the nanofibers, before and after immersing them in phosphate buffer, it was shown that higher chitosan content leads to more stable fibers. So, the solution with the chitosan to PVA ratio of 40:60 was used for enzyme immobilization. Then, the effects of initial protein concentration, temperature, incubation time, and method of immobilization were investigated to reach the highest enzyme activity. Under similar immobilization conditions, covalently immobilized urease showed higher activity, compared to uncrosslinked immobilized enzyme. Besides, it retained 30% of its initial activity after 10 times usage. So, this method was chosen for further investigation. Not only the activity of the immobilized enzyme was much higher than the free enzyme in a wide range of pH and temperature, but also stability of the immobilized enzyme was improved. Immobilized urease was then used to remove thiourea which is a toxic compound. Findings indicated 60% hydrolysis of initial thiourea in 12 h. In conclusion, the findings showed that chitosan/PVA nanofibers are suitable candidates for the immobilization of urease.

Analysis Effect of Nano Chitosan Coating on The Quality of Shallot Bulbs (Allium ascalonicum L. var. Bauji)

Shallots are bulb-shaped commodities that are difficult to maintain in new conditions because they are easily damaged. An effective effort to prevent deterioration of food quality during storage is by coating it using nano chitosan. The effectiveness of nano chitosan is influenced by particle size which related to the ratio of chitosan and STPP (sodium tripolyphosphate). This study aimed to determine the effect of nano chitosan coating with the addition of different ratios of chitosan and STPP and the appropriate ratio of chitosan and STPP on nano chitosan as a coating to maintain the quality of shallot bulbs (Allium ascalonicum L. var. Bauji). This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) method with four treatments and five replications. The treatments of this research were P0= Control, PI= Nano chitosan ratio of chitosan: STPP 1:3, P2= Nano chitosan ratio of chitosan:STPP 1:4, and P3= Nano chitosan ratio of chitosan:STPP 1:5. The variables of this study were the percentage of damage, the percentage of diameter shrinkage, weight loss, color, hardness, and moisture content. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA test and continued with the DMRT test. The application of nano chitosan coating on shallot bulbs could reduce damage, shrinkage of tuber diameter, weight loss, color, hardness, and decrease in water content better than the control treatment. The best results were shown by treatment P3 (1:5) with a percentage of damage of 8%, diameter shrinkage of 20.20%, weight loss of 18.40%, total color change of 54.45, hardness of 226.23 N, and a decrease in water content of 4.65% at the final water content of 79.09%.

Encapsulation of olive leaf antioxidants in microbeads: Application of alginate and chitosan as wall materials

Edible microcapsule technology has been declared as a newly developed technology in 21st century by some certain authorities in order to preserve food products. Encapsulation of the bioactive materials in edible coatings is a blessing that can eliminate many undesirable situations that might arise when it is used as additive. In this study, olive leaf extract has been evaluated as active material to prepare microcapsules by using alginate as coating. Ionic gelation was used to produce microbeads. The experimental design of the encapsulation system, the effects of the process parameters, the modeling of the experimental data and the optimization of the conditions were carried out with Box-Behnken design of response surface method (Box-Behnken-RSM). Box-Behnken-RSM produced 17 experimental runs. Calcium chloride (2–15%, w/v) and sodium alginate concentrations (1–2%, w/v), and hardening time (15–45 min) were selected as independent variables, while encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the capsules in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and oleuropein concentration were responses. Impact of chitosan as coating layer was also investigated with three different ratios of chitosan (0.4%, 0.7%, 1% w/v). Accelerated oxidation test was employed to measure the stability of the microcapsules against oxidation by means of Rancimat method. Encapsulation of the olive leaf extract in alginate microbeads was satisfying with >70% and >90% efficiencies with respect to TPC and oleuropein under optimum conditions (2.34% calcium chloride concentration and 2% sodium alginate for 26 min of hardening time).

Chitosan-biotin topical film: preparation and evaluation of burn wound healing activity

A new composite film from chitosan (CS) and biotin (BIO) was developed to enhance burn wound healing. The film was prepared by electrostatic interaction between CS and BIO. Four different ratios of CS to BIO v/v (4:1, 3:2, 2:3, and 1:4) were prepared. The films were comprehensively characterized using FTIR, DSC, and AFM. The in-vitro release studies showed that the most promising formula with the highest release behavior was CS to BIO 1: 4. The ex vivo adhesion times were reported as 0.50 ± 0.30 min for CS film compared to 6.2 ± 0.30, 8.4 ± 0.40, 11.2 ± 0.50, and 13.83 ± 1.04 min for CS to BIO films v/v (1:4, 2:3, 3:2 and 4:1), respectively. Most importantly, the skin healing activities of CS/BIO film in the excision wound model in mice and skin burn model in rats showed faster rates of healing compared to CS and placebo. Furthermore, skin stretching and burn wound contraction behavior treated with CS/BIO were higher than that of CS treated skin. In conclusion, the results obtained revealed that CS/BIO films possessed superior burn wound healing activity compared to CS.

Laccase immobilized on chitosan-polyacrylic acid microspheres as highly efficient biocatalyst for naphthol green B and indigo carmine degradation

Low cost and non-toxic microspheres constituted by different ratios of chitosan (Cs) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) were manufactured as carriers for laccase (Lc). The CsPAA microspheres characterization proved that the PAA content played an important role on the size, surface morphology and rheological properties, and modulated the enzyme immobilization. The immobilization of Lc involved a multi-step procedure in which the 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) was used as “zero length” crosslinker. The product with the largest active enzyme amount (44.38 mg Lc/g dry support), and the best operational stability profile was 10CsPAALc3. Also, this product contained the lowest PAA concentration and had excellent rheological properties. Moreover, two current hazardous chemicals, indigo carmine (IC) and naphthol green B (NG), were used as model dyes in practical applications. The biocatalytic decomposition of NG and IC was 1.67 and 2.4 times faster for 10CsPAALc3 compared to the free enzyme. The kinetic profile revealed that the immobilized Lc was less prone to substrate, operational and thermal inactivation. For example, the thermal inactivation for 10CsPAALc3 decreased by approximately 25% when dyes were used as substrate and by 11.71% for ABTS, as compared with the free Lc. The recycling test showed that in 5 cycles the immobilized Lc preserves 81% with NG and respectively 72% for IC of initial activity. The results prove that the new immobilized product can be successfully used in indigoid and metal-complex dyes biodegradation.

Comparative evaluation of carvacrol and eugenol chitosan nanoparticles as eco-friendly preservative agents in cosmetics

The current status of controversy regarding the use of certain preservatives in cosmetic products makes it necessary to seek new ecological alternatives that are free of adverse effects on users. In our study, two different natural terpenes Carvacrol and Eugenol were encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles in different ratios of Chitosan:terpene. The nanoparticles were characterized by DLS and TEM showing a maximum particle size of 100 nm. The chemical structure, thermal properties, and release profile of terpenes were evaluated showing a successful protection of terpene in Chitosan matrix. Two different release profile were observed showing a faster release profile in the case of Eugenol. Antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles were evaluated against typical microbial contaminants found in cosmetic products, showing higher antimicrobial properties with chitosan encapsulation of terpenes. Furthermore, natural moisturizing cream inoculated with beforementioned microorganisms was formulated with Carvacrol-chitosan nanoparticles and Eugenol-chitosan nanoparticles to evaluate the preservative efficiency, indicating a highest preservative efficiency with the use of Eugenol-chitosan nanoparticles.

Comparison Study between Cherry and Arabic Gums in Preparation and Characterization of Orange Peel Extract Nanocapsules

This study was aimed at determining the potential use of cherry gum (CG) and chitosan (CS) as wall materials, to encapsulate an orange peel extract (PE) via the ionic gelation method and compare its efficiency with that of Arabic gum (AG). Different ratios of chitosan to gum (1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 3, v/v) and CS to PE (1 : 0.5, 1 : 1, and 1 : 1.5, v/v) were studied to evaluate the nanocapsule properties. The results showed that the capsules entrapping the PE were successfully created with an encapsulation efficiency (EE %) of more than 80% via the ionic gelation method. The ratio of chitosan : gums and CS : PE was affecting both the encapsulation efficiency and capsule size. The capsules’ spherical shape and nanometer size were confirmed using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The relative ratios 1 : 1 of CS : CG and 1 : 0.5 of CS : PE gave the highest EE% (89.27%) with an average capsule size of 70 nm, whereas the maximum EE% with AG was 97.39% with a mean size of 50 nm at the CS : PE ratio of 1 : 0.5 and AG : CS ratio of 1 : 2. The release profile of PE from the CS‐CG matrix during 240 min under acidic and alkaline conditions was about 94.45% and 98.53%, respectively, and that from the CS‐AG matrix was about 25.54% and 19.49%, respectively. The FTIR spectra confirmed the electrostatic interactions between the protonated amino group of chitosan (‐NH3+) and carboxylic ions (−COO−) of the gums. These findings indicated that the CS‐CG could be used as an efficient and ecofriendly coating material for nanoencapsulation of PE.

Wound-aided semi-solid poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels incorporating essential oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles

The potential of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) loaded with essential oil (EO) incorporated into semi-solid PVA hydrogels for use in wound management was studied. Two types of essential oil were compared including clove essential oil (CEO) and turmeric essential oil (TEO). The EO-loaded CSNPs were prepared by a two-step method; oil-in-water (o/w) emulsification followed by ionic gelation using different ratios of chitosan:EO (i.e., 1:0.25, 1:0.50, 1:0.75, and 1:1.00 w/w). The increasing amount of EO caused more aggregate structure as observed from SEM images. The TEO-loaded CSNPs showed a higher extent of aggregation than the CEO-loaded CSNPs. The adhesiveness of the semi-solid PVA hydrogels containing TEO-loaded CSNPs was the highest. The use of EO-loaded CSNPs in the semi-solid PVA hydrogel helped to sustain and prolong the release rate of EO from the hydrogels as compared to just the EO alone. The studied semi-solid PVA hydrogels were non-toxic to both NCTC clone 929 and NHDF cells. Overall results suggested that these semi-solid hydrogels are good candidates for use in wound management.

Development of Inhalable Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Ciprofloxacin for Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis Treatment

PurposeCiprofloxacin (CIP) has poor lung targeting after oral inhalation. This study developed optimized inhalable nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for CIP to enhance deposition and accumulation in deeper parts of the lungs for treatment of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB).MethodsNLC formulations based on stearic acid and oleic acid were successfully prepared by hot homogenization and in vitro-characterized. CIP-NLCs were formulated into nanocomposite micro particles (NCMPs) for administration in dry powder inhalation (DPI) formulations by spray-drying (SD) using different ratios of chitosan (CH) as a carrier. DPI formulations were evaluated for drug content and in vitro deposition, and their mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), fine particle fraction (FPF), fine particle dose (FPD), and emitted dose (ED) were determined.ResultsThe CIP-NLCs were in the nanometric size range (102.3 ± 4.6 nm), had a low polydispersity index (0.267 ± 0.12), and efficient CIP encapsulation (98.75% ± 0.048%), in addition to a spherical and smooth shape with superior antibacterial activity. The in vitro drug release profile of CIP from CIP-NLCs showed 80% release in 10 h. SD of CIP-NLCs with different ratios of CH generated NCMPs with good yield (>65%). The NCMPs had a corrugated surface, but with increasing lipid:CH ratios, more spherical, smooth, and homogenous NCMPs were obtained. In addition, there was a significant change in the FPF with increasing lipid:CH ratios (P ˂ 0.05). NCMP-1 (lipid:CH = 1:0.5) had the highest FPD (45.0 µg) and FPF (49.2%), while NCMP-3 (lipid:CH = 1:1.5) had the lowest FPF (37.4%). All NCMP powders had an MMAD in the optimum size range of 3.9–5.1 μm.ConclusionNovel inhalable CIP NCMP powders are a potential new approach to improved target ability and delivery of CIP for NCFB treatment.

Synthesis and characterization of a chitosan/gelatin transparent film crosslinked with a combination of EDC/NHS for corneal epithelial cell culture scaffold with potential application in cornea implantation

The diseases and disorders of the cornea may lead to blindness, and cornea transplantation has been an effective treatment in this regard. However, lack of cornea throughout the world makes this treatment difficult. Therefore, the first goal of the present study is to make a chitosan/gelatin hyaline film with NHS and EDC crosslinkers for transplanting the epithelial cells of the cornea. Two solutions of gelatin and chitosan were mixed homogeneously before crosslinking in ratios of 20/80, 30/70, 40/60, and 50/50 (Gel/Chi). After 24 hours, they were put in an oven to dry, then EDC and NHS were added to the mixture as crosslinker. Corneal epithelial cell morphology was assessed qualitatively and compared between different ratios of chitosan and gelatin using corneal epithelial cell culture tests. Mechanical and optical analysis were performed; the results implied an increase in chitosan concentration could improve transparency and biocompatibility of produced samples. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and SEM analysis were done for the chemical and morphological characterization of fabricated films. Moreover, the presented results revealed that increment in chitosan increased water permeability and degradability of samples. Besides, MTT essays showed that with increment in chitosan concentration, cell proliferation and cell viability were significantly improved.

The effects of chitosan addition to glass ionomer cement on microhardness and surface roughness.

The aim of this study was to investigate the surface microhardness and roughness properties of a modified glass ionomer cement formed by adding different ratios of Chitosan, when exposed to saliva and acid erosive gastric acid cycle environments. Chitosan was added to conventional glass ionomer liquid at volumes of 5% and 10%. The chitosan-modified glass ionomer was used for the experimental group, and traditional glass ionomer formed the control group. All the groups were separated into two subgroups. One of these subgroups was subjected to a gastric acid erosive cycle. The other subgroup was immersed in artificial saliva. Microhardness, surface roughness with optical profilometer and AFM measurements of all the samples were taken. Qualitative surface topographic evaluations were made using a SEM. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U-test for pairwise comparisons of the groups at the 0.05 level of significance. The addition of chitosan to GIC had a positive effect on the microhardness values. The gastric acid erosive cycle application negatively affected the microhardness and surface roughness properties of the sample groups. The chitosan-modified glass ionomer cement samples showed clinically acceptable surface roughness values. Although the results of the addition of the biopolymer, chitosan, to GIC are promising, there is a need for further in-vivo studies.

Differential anti-inflammatory properties of chitosan-based cryogel scaffolds depending on chitosan/gelatin ratio

Chitosan/gelatine-based materials have been widely used as biocompatible scaffolds in the tissue engineering field. Chitosan suppresses the inflammatory activities of macrophages whereas gelatine induces inflammatory cytokine production by these cells. Cryogel form of the scaffolds created an effect that was mostly dominated by chitosan activity. Since independent of chitosan to gelatine ratio, the cryogels eliminated the inflammatory cytokine production by the activated macrophages. This will enable suppression of inflammatory reactions by macrophages during implant procedure while enabling a nest of the matrix for the macrophages to reside. Determining the immunomodulatory effect of these materials during the decay is crucial to assess their biocompatibility and safety. Our results suggest that when the chitosan ratio was higher than that of gelatine the materials had anti-inflammatory activity in their powder forms based on TNFα production levels by LPS activated macrophages, whereas higher gelatine to chitosan ratio eliminated this effect. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the powder vs. gel forms of the chitosan/gelatine-based materials for their immunomodulatory potentials as well as how the ratio of chitosan to gelatine might affect these materials immunomodulatory effects on the activated macrophages. HIGHLIGHTS Chitosan/gelatin composite cryogels have anti-inflammatory activities. Different ratios of chitosan to gelatin content altered the immunomodulatory activities. They can be safely and effectively used as implant materials for tissue engineering applications. They will also reduce the use of anti-inflammatory drugs during implantation.