Emulsion Self‐Assembly Synthesis of Chitosan/Poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) Stimuli‐Responsive Amphiphiles

An amphiphilic graft copolymer using chitosan (CS) as a hydrophilic main chain and poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a hydrophobic side chain is prepared through an emulsion self‐assembly synthesis. CS aqueous solution is used as a water phase and PLGA in chloroform is served as an oil phase. A water‐in‐oil (W/O) emulsion is fabricated in the presence of the surfactant span‐80. The self‐assembly reaction is performed between PLGA and CS under the condensation of EDC. Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy reveals that PLGA is grafted onto the backbone of CS through the interactions between end carboxyl and amino groups of the two components. ¹H NMR spectroscopy directly indicates the grafting content of PLGA in the CS‐graft‐PLGA (CS‐g‐PLGA) copolymer is close to 25%. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that the copolymer exhibits an amorphous structure. The CS‐g‐PLGA amphiphile can self‐assemble to form micelles with size in the range of ≈100–300 nm, which makes it easy to apply in various targeted‐drug‐release and biomaterial fields.     

Grafting of Chitosan with Styrene and Maleic Anhydride via Nitroxide‐Mediated Radical Polymerization in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

A novel synthesis route is used to produce chitosan‐graft‐poly(styrene‐maleic anhydride)‐OH‐TEMPO (CTS‐g‐PSMA‐T). A three‐step reaction scheme is proposed: 1) bromine 4‐OH‐TEMPO oxoammonium salt is synthesized. 2) Hydroxyl‐targeted groups in the CTS molecule are reacted with the synthesized salt in aqueous acid solution. A functionalization of 18.9% is achieved. 3) Graft copolymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride is done via NMRP by a unimolecular initiation system. The reaction is run in a dispersion in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) in the presence of camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) to avoid autopolymerization. A modified CTS with a graft content of 68% in weight is obtained.

     

Effects of chitosan and bioactive glass modifications of knitted and rolled polylactide‐based 96/4 L/D scaffolds on chondrogenic differentiation of adipose stem cells

The performance of biodegradable knitted and rolled 3‐dimensional (3D) polylactide‐based 96/4 scaffolds modified with bioactive glass (BaG) 13‐93, chitosan and both was compared with regard to the viability, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit adipose stem cells (ASCs). Scaffold porosities were determined by micro‐computed tomography (μCT). Water absorption and degradation of scaffolds were studied during 28‐day hydrolysis in Tris‐buffer. Viability, number and differentiation of ASCs in PLA96/4 scaffolds were examined in vitro. The dimensions of the scaffolds were maintained during hydrolysis and mass loss was detected only in the BaG13‐93 containing scaffolds. ASCs adhered and proliferated on each scaffold type. Cell aggregation and expression of chondral matrix components improved in all scaffold types in chondrogenic medium. Signs of hypertrophy were detected in the modified scaffolds but not in the plain PLA96/4 scaffold. Chondrogenic differentiation was most enhanced in the presence of chitosan. These findings indicate that the plain P scaffold provided a good 3D‐matrix for ASC proliferation whereas the addition of chitosan to the PLA96/4 scaffold induced chondrogenic differentiation independent of the medium. Accordingly, a PLA96/4 scaffold modified by chitosan could provide a functional and bioactive basis for tissue‐engineered chondral implants. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

羟基磷灰石／壳聚糖复合微球的制备及其生物学作用的体外研究

目的：通过探究羟基磷灰石（HAp）壳聚糖（CS）复合微球支架对骨髓间充质干细胞体外生物学行为的影响,评估其作为骨组织工程支架的可行性。方法纳米 HAp 和CS 复合物通过微流体技术自组装成微球支架,显微镜下形态学观察。将 P2代骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）与微球行体外共培养,计算前6 h 黏附率。培养1、3、6、9 d,计算增殖率并用 GraphPad Prism 6软件对数据进行处理;行扫描电镜及共聚焦扫描式显微镜检测,观察细胞黏附及分布。将细胞微球复合物填入自制模具中培养14～21 d,进行形态观察。结果显微镜镜下微球为完整的圆形,大小一致。BMSCs 与微球体外培养6 h,黏附率达90％以上。6 d 时,BMSCs 的增殖率达到最高。扫描电镜结果显示微球上有大量 BMSCs 黏附定植并分泌大量胞外基质将微球连接成整体;共聚焦扫描式显微镜结果可见明显的细胞骨架微丝蛋白。细胞微球体外模具培养18 d 后,形成了结构完整的组织块。结论HAp-CS 微球是一种良好的促BMSCs 种子细胞黏附定植的支架材料,是促进细胞生长的有效支撑载体,与共培养细胞形成的复合组织块有望应用于体内动物实验修复标准缺损。     

A New Generation of Electrospun Fibers Containing Bioactive Glass Particles for Wound Healing

Chitosan fibers blended with polyethylene oxide (CHIT_PEO) and crosslinked with genipin were fabricated by electrospinning technique. Subsequently, CHIT_PEO bioactive glass composite electrospun mats were fabricated with the aim to achieve flexible structures with adequate mechanical properties and improved biological performance respect to CHIT_PEO fibers, for potential applications in wound healing. Three different compositions of bioactive glasses (BG) were selected and investigated: 45S5 BG, a Sr and Mg containing bioactive glass (BGMS10) and a Zn-containing bioactive glass (BGMS_2Zn). Particulate BGs (particles size < 20 μm) were separately added to the starting CHIT_PEO solution before electrospinning. The two recently developed bioactive glasses (BGMS10 and BGMS_2Zn) showed very promising biological properties in terms of bioactivity and cellular viability; thus, such compositions were added for the first time to CHIT_PEO solution to fabricate composite electrospun mats. The incorporation of bioactive glass particles and their distribution into CHIT_PEO fibers were assessed by SEM and FTIR analyses. Furthermore, CHIT_PEO composite electrospun mats showed improved mechanical properties in terms of Young’s Modulus compared to neat CHIT_PEO fibers; on the contrary, the values of tensile strain at break (%) were comparable. Biological performance in terms of cellular viability was investigated by means of WST-8 assay and CHIT_PEO composite electrospun mats showed cytocompatibility and the desired cellular viability.     

Fabrication and characterization of chitosan–collagen crosslinked membranes for corneal tissue engineering

This article describes a chitosan–collagen composite membrane as corneal tissue-engineering biomaterials. The membrane was prepared by dissolving the chitosan into collagen with the weight ratio of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 100%, followed by crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. Mechanical properties, contact angles, and optical transmittance were determined and compared between chitosan membrane and crosslinking composite membrane. As a result, the optical transparency and mechanical strength of the chitosan–collagen membranes were significantly better than that of the sample of chitosan. In addition, in vitro cell culture studies revealed that the collagen has no negative effect on the cell morphology, viability, and proliferation and possess good biocompatibility. Overall, the dendrimer crosslinked chitosan–collagen composite membranes showed promising properties that suggest that these might be suitable biomaterials for corneal tissue-engineering applications.     

壳聚糖/葡甘聚糖混合膜对人牙周膜细胞作用观察

目的:通过壳聚糖/葡甘聚糖膜单独、以及膜加载碱性成纤维细胞生长因子和第4代人牙周膜细胞共同培养,观察壳聚糖/葡甘聚糖膜对人牙周膜细胞增殖分化的影响。方法:观察不同质量比壳聚糖与葡甘聚糖共混膜对第4代细胞HPDLCs增殖影响及其对碱性磷酸酶活性(ALP)影响。结果:不同质量比的壳聚糖/葡甘聚糖混合膜对HPDLCs的增殖有促进作用,加载bFGF后,HPDLCs增殖得到增强,且壳聚糖/葡甘聚糖膜比3:0和1:2的混合膜还可增强ALP的活性水平。结论:壳聚糖/葡甘聚糖膜是一种潜在的牙周组织再生膜。     

温敏型壳聚糖/甘油磷酸钠缓释胰岛素凝胶系统的制备

目的:初步探讨制备温敏性壳聚糖/甘油磷酸钠载胰岛素凝胶系统.方法:应用壳聚糖与甘油磷酸钠制备具有温敏性的载有胰岛素的凝胶体系,从凝胶体系的pH值、粘度测定、胶凝时间研究不同配比、不同pH值对壳聚糖/甘油磷酸钠(CS/β-GP) 体系凝胶化性能的影响.结果:壳聚糖凝胶在室温(25℃)下呈液态,56% 甘油磷酸钠(β-GP)与3%壳聚糖(CS)在pH值6.8-7.2,37℃下凝胶化时间(GT) 从1h缩短到8-12min,凝胶形态良好,并且在负载胰岛素溶液后C/GP凝胶形态未受影响.结论:一定配比CS/GPS 体系在37℃具有快速凝胶化性能,在加入胰岛素后并未改变其温敏特性,为后续的温敏性壳聚糖/甘油磷酸钠载胰岛素凝胶系统的体外释药实验打下了基础.