草鱼鱼鳞胶原蛋白的凝胶性能研究

以草鱼鱼鳞为原料,分别提取鱼鳞中的酸溶性胶原蛋白(ASC)和酶溶性胶原蛋白(PSC),利用动态流变仪和物性分析仪开展胶原凝胶形成和凝胶性能的相关研究,并与哺乳动物来源的猪皮胶原(PC)相比较。实验结果表明,制备所得的3种胶原蛋白均为典型的Ⅰ型胶原并具有完整的3螺旋结构;蛋白浓度和体系pH值是影响胶原凝胶形成的重要因素。ASC形成凝胶的临界pH值为4.5,而PSC和PC为5,3种胶原蛋白凝胶形成的临界蛋白浓度均为0.5mg/mL。粘弹性分析和质构分析的实验结果表明,ASC容易形成一种硬度高但脆性大的凝胶,升高温度可导致其凝胶结构发生不可逆的破坏,而PSC和PC更容易形成一种硬度小但韧性好的凝胶,在低于蛋白变性温度的条件下升高温度可以有效提高凝胶硬度;胶原蛋白凝胶质构受蛋白浓度、体系pH值和蛋白的3螺旋结构影响。蛋白浓度越高,体系pH值越接近中性,形成的凝胶硬度越大,但脆性也随之增加;当胶原蛋白因受热而导致其三螺旋结构破坏后,其凝胶形成能力急剧下降。     

Post implantation fate of adipogenic induced mesenchymal stem cells on Type I collagen scaffold in a rat model

Regenerative medicine via its application in soft tissue reconstruction through novel methods in adipose tissue engineering (ATE) has gained remarkable attention and investment despite simultaneous reports on clinical incidence of graft resorption and impaired vascularization. The underlying malaise here once identified may play a critical role in optimizing implant function. Our work attempts to determine the fate of donor cells and the implant in recipient micro environment using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on a type I collagen sponge, an established scaffold for ATE. Cell components within the construct were identified 21 days post implantation to delineate cell survival, proliferation & terminal roles in vivo. ASC’s are multipotent, while collagen type I is a natural extra cellular matrix component. Commercially available bovine type I collagen was characterized for its physiochemical properties and cyto-compatibility. Nile red staining of induced ASCs identified red globular structures in cell cytoplasm indicating oil droplet accumulation. Similarly, in vivo implantation of the cell seeded collagen construct in rat model for 21 days in the dorsal muscle, showed genesis of chicken wire network of fat-like cells, which was demonstrated histologically using a variety of staining techniques. Furthermore, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique established the efficiency of transplantation wherein the male donor cells with labeled Y chromosome was identified 21 days post implantation from female rat model. Retrieved samples at 21 days indicated adipogenesis in situ, with donor cells highlighted via FISH. The study provides an insight to stem cells in ATE from genesis to functionalization.     

Use of adipose stem cells and polylactide discs for tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint disc

There is currently no suitable replacement for damaged temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs after discectomy. In the present study, we fabricated bilayer biodegradable polylactide (PLA) discs comprising a non-woven mat of poly(L/D)lactide (P(L/D)LA) 96/4 and a P(L/DL)LA 70/30 membrane plate. The PLA disc was examined in combination with adipose stem cells (ASCs) for tissue engineering of the fibrocartilaginous TMJ disc in vitro. ASCs were cultured in parallel in control and chondrogenic medium for a maximum of six weeks. Relative expression of the genes, aggrecan, type I collagen and type II collagen present in the TMJ disc extracellular matrix increased in the ASC-seeded PLA discs in the chondrogenic medium. The hypertrophic marker, type X collagen, was moderately induced. Alcian blue staining showed accumulation of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. ASC differentiation in the PLA discs was close to that observed in pellet cultures. Comparison of the mRNA levels revealed that the degree of ASC differentiation was lower than that in TMJ disc-derived cells and tissue. The pellet format supported the phenotype of the TMJ disc-derived cells under chondrogenic conditions and also enhanced their hyalinization potential, which is considered part of the TMJ disc degeneration process. Accordingly, the combination of ASCs and PLA discs has potential for the development of a tissue-engineered TMJ disc replacement.     

Potential use of ascorbic acid-based surfactants as skin penetration enhancers

6-O-Ascorbic acid alkanoates (ASCn) are amphiphilic molecules having physical-chemical properties that depend on the alkyl chain length. The derivatives of low molecular weight (n < 11) have enough aqueous solubility to produce self-assemblies at room temperature ( approximately 25 degrees C), while those with longer alkyl chains possess a critical micellar temperature (CMT) higher than 30 degrees C. At higher temperatures (T degrees > CMT), ASCn aqueous suspensions turn into either micellar solutions or gel phases, depending on the length of the hydrophobic chain. On cooling, coagels are produced, which possess a lamellar structure that exhibit sharp X-ray diffraction patterns and optical birefringence. The semisolid consistency of such coagels is an interesting property to formulate dermatological pharmaceutical dosage forms able to solubilize and stabilize different drugs. The objective of the present study was the evaluation of the enhancing permeation effect of ASCn with different chain lengths and to correlate permeability changes with histological effects. With this purpose, ASCn coagels containing anthralin (antipsoriasic drug) or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC, hydrophobic fluorescent marker) were assayed on rat skin (ex vivo) and mice skin (in vivo), respectively. Also, histological studies were performed aimed at detecting some possible side effects of ASCn. No inflammatory cellular response was observed in the skin when ASCn coagels were applied, suggesting non-irritating properties. Light microscopy indicated slight disruption and fragmentation of stratum corneum. The penetration of ASCn through rat skin epidermis was very fast and quantitatively significant. The permeation of anthralin was significantly increased when the drug was vehiculized in ASCn coagels, compared to other pharmaceutical systems. The results indicated that ASC12 seems to have the highest enhancing effect on FITC permeation. ASC12 appears to be the compound that possesses the highest capacity to enhance the penetration of the drugs. Furthermore, it has the highest permeation of the serie.     

Engineered articular cartilage: influence of the scaffold on cell phenotype and proliferation

Articular cartilage defects do not heal. Biodegradable scaffolds have been studied for cartilage engineering in order to implant autologous chondrocytes and help cartilage repair. We tested some new collagen matrices differing in collagen type, origin, structure and methods of extraction and purification, and compared the behavior of human chondrocytes cultured on them. Human chondrocytes were grown for three weeks on four different equine type I collagen matrices, one type I, III porcine collagen matrix and one porcine type II collagen matrix. After 21 days, samples were subjected to histochemical, immunohistochemical and histomorphometric analysis to study phenotype expression and cell adhesion. At 7, 14 and 21 days cell proliferation was studied by incorporation of [3H]-thymidine. Our data evidence that the collagen type influences cell morphology, adhesion and growth; indeed, cellularity and rate of proliferation were significantly higher and cells were rounder on the collagen II matrix than on either of the collagen I matrices. Among the collagen I matrices, we observed a great variability in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation. The present study allowed us to identify one type I collagen matrix and one type II collagen matrix that could be usefully employed as a scaffold for chondrocyte transplantation.     

利用狭鳕加工废料制备胶原的表征及其生物学功能

以狭鳕加工废料为来源提取酸溶胶原并加以表征.该胶原在230nm处有最大紫外吸收,红外吸收光谱指示存在螺旋结构.电泳图谱分离出多个亚基,鉴定为Ⅰ型胶原.该胶原有独特的氨基酸组成,甘氨酸达19.8%,羟脯氨酸占6.9%.酸水解制备的胶原多肽平均分子量区间为3.2～53kDa.胶原多肽具有不同的生物学功能:较高分子量的胶原多...     

Preparation and properties of collagen/modified hyaluronic acid hydrogel for biomedical application

Hydrogels composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid are types of crosslinked water-swellable polymers and possess vast potential for applications in the medical industry. Collagen (Co) is the major structural protein of connective tissues such as skin, tendon and cartilage. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a non-immunogenic, non-adhesive glycosaminoglycan that has a high water absorption property and plays significant roles in several cellular processes. The purpose of this study is to prepare a collagen (Co)-modified hyaluronic acid (MHA) hydrogel and investigate its potential utility for biomedical products such as wound dressing materials. Collagen (Co, type I) was obtained from pig skin and mucopolysaccharide-HA was modified by a poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) crosslinker. Thermal stability, swelling behavior, and mechanical strength of Co-MHA hydrogel according to different mass ratios of Co and MHA in hydrogel networks were investigated. The physical properties of the hydrogel were measured by SEM, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermal Gravity Analysis (TGA), and a Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The cell viability of Co-MHA hydrogel was also evaluated using an in vitro MTT assay.     

Functionalisation of PLLA nanofiber scaffolds using a possible cooperative effect between collagen type I and BMP-2: impact on growth and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation of osteoblasts is triggered by a series of signaling processes including integrin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), which therefore act in a cooperative manner. The aim of this study was to analyze whether these processes can be remodeled in an artificial poly-(l)-lactide acid (PLLA) based nanofiber scaffold. Matrices composed of PLLA-collagen type I or BMP-2 incorporated PLLA-collagen type I were seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and cultivated over a period of 22 days, either under growth or osteoinductive conditions. During the course of culture, gene expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) and collagen I (COL-I) as well as Smad5 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), two signal transduction molecules involved in BMP-2 or integrin signaling were analyzed. Furthermore, calcium and collagen I deposition, as well as cell densities and proliferation, were determined using fluorescence microscopy. The incorporation of BMP-2 into PLLA-collagen type I nanofibers resulted in a decrease in diameter as well as pore sizes of the scaffold. Mesenchymal stem cells showed better adherence and a reduced proliferation on BMP-containing scaffolds. This was accompanied by an increase in gene expression of ALP, OC and COL-I. Furthermore the presence of BMP-2 resulted in an upregulation of FAK, while collagen had an impact on the gene expression of Smad5. Therefore these different strategies can be combined in order to enhance the osteoblast differentiation of hMSC on PLLA based nanofiber scaffold. By doing this, different signal transduction pathways seem to be up regulated.     

A multilayer tissue engineered meniscus substitute

Various methods have been tried to treat the main meniscus problem, meniscal tears, for which we believe tissue engineering could be a viable solution. In this study, a three dimensional, collagen-based meniscus substitute was prepared by tissue engineering using human fibrochondrocytes and a collagen based-scaffold. This construct was made with 3 different collagen-based foams interspaced with two electrospun nano/microfibrous mats. The top layer was made of collagen type I–chondroitin sulfate–hyaluronic acid (Coll–CS–HA), and the middle and the bottom layers were made of only collagen type I with different porosities and thus with different mechanical properties. The mats of aligned fibers were a blend of collagen type I and poly(l-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). After seeding with human fibrochondrocytes, cell attachment, proliferation, and production of extracellular matrix and glucoseaminoglycan were studied. Cell seeding had a positive effect on the compressive properties of foams and the 3D construct. The 3D construct with all its 5 layers had better mechanical properties than the individual foams.     

A cartilage tissue engineering approach combining starch-polycaprolactone fibre mesh scaffolds with bovine articular chondrocytes

In the present work we originally tested the suitability of corn starch-polycaprolactone (SPCL) scaffolds for pursuing a cartilage tissue engineering approach. Bovine articular chondrocytes were seeded on SPCL scaffolds under dynamic conditions using spinner flasks (total of 4 scaffolds per spinner flask using cell suspensions of 0.5 × 10⁶ cells/ml) and cultured under orbital agitation for a total of 6 weeks. Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) non-woven scaffolds and bovine native articular cartilage were used as standard controls for the conducted experiments. PGA is a kind of standard in tissue engineering approaches and it was used as a control in that sense. The tissue engineered constructs were characterized at different time periods by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue stainings, immunolocalisation of collagen types I and II, and dimethylmethylene blue (DMB) assay for glycosaminoglycans (GAG) quantification assay. SEM results for SPCL constructs showed that the chondrocytes presented normal morphological features, with extensive cells presence at the surface of the support structures, and penetrating the scaffolds pores. These observations were further corroborated by H&E staining. Toluidine blue and immunohistochemistry exhibited extracellular matrix deposition throughout the 3D structure. Glycosaminoglycans, and collagen types I and II were detected. However, stronger staining for collagen type II was observed when compared to collagen type I. The PGA constructs presented similar features to SPCL at the end of the 6 weeks. PGA constructs exhibited higher amounts of matrix glycosaminoglycans when compared to the SPCL scaffolds. However, we also observed a lack of tissue in the central area of the PGA scaffolds. Reasons for these occurrences may include inefficient cells penetration, necrosis due to high cell densities, or necrosis related with acidic by-products degradation. Such situation was not detected in the SPCL scaffolds, indicating the much better biocompatibility of the starch based scaffolds.     

Potential Use of Ascorbic Acid–Based Surfactants as Skin Penetration Enhancers

ABSTRACT

6-O-Ascorbic acid alkanoates (ASCn) are amphiphilic molecules having physical-chemical properties that depend on the alkyl chain length. The derivatives of low molecular weight (n < 11) have enough aqueous solubility to produce self-assemblies at room temperature (≈25°C), while those with longer alkyl chains possess a critical micellar temperature (CMT) higher than 30°C. At higher temperatures (T° > CMT), ASCn aqueous suspensions turn into either micellar solutions or gel phases, depending on the length of the hydrophobic chain. On cooling, coagels are produced, which possess a lamellar structure that exhibit sharp X-ray diffraction patterns and optical birefringence. The semisolid consistency of such coagels is an interesting property to formulate dermatological pharmaceutical dosage forms able to solubilize and stabilize different drugs. The objective of the present study was the evaluation of the enhancing permeation effect of ASCn with different chain lengths and to correlate permeability changes with histological effects. With this purpose, ASCn coagels containing anthralin (antipsoriasic drug) or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC, hydrophobic fluorescent marker) were assayed on rat skin (ex vivo) and mice skin (in vivo), respectively. Also, histological studies were performed aimed at detecting some possible side effects of ASCn. No inflammatory cellular response was observed in the skin when ASCn coagels were applied, suggesting non-irritating properties. Light microscopy indicated slight disruption and fragmentation of stratum corneum. The penetration of ASCn through rat skin epidermis was very fast and quantitatively significant. The permeation of anthralin was significantly increased when the drug was vehiculized in ASCn coagels, compared to other pharmaceutical systems. The results indicated that ASC12 seems to have the highest enhancing effect on FITC permeation. ASC12 appears to be the compound that possesses the highest capacity to enhance the penetration of the drugs. Furthermore, it has the highest permeation of the serie.     

An Investigation of the Synthesis of Poly(D,L-Lactic Acid) and Preparation of Microspheres Containing Indomethacin

Abstract

Seven batches of poly(D, L-lactic acid) (PLA) were prepared from D, L-lactic acid using tetraphenyltin or zinc acetate as a catalyst. The samples of PLA were characterized by terminal group analysis, gel permeation chromatography, infrared analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Polymerization conditions such as the time of reaction and the type of catalyst affected the molecular weight of PLA. Microspheres containing indomethacin were prepared by the oil/water (o/w) solvent evaporation technique using different formulations and process variables. The in vitro release of indornethacin in phosphate buffer was found to be dependent on the molecular weight of PLA and also on the type and amount of adjuvants used. The batch of microspheres containing 5% cholesterol released the drug at a slow controlled rate (29%, 65%. and 85% in 1, 7, and 24 hr, respectively). The results of F test for the microspheres revealed that there is no significant direrence between the Higuchi model and the power law equation. The drug was released by a dimsion mechanism from the microspheres.     

An Investigation of the Synthesis of Poly(D, L-Lactic Acid) and Preparation of Microspheres Containing Indomethacin

Seven batches of poly(D, L-lactic acid) (PLA) were prepared from D, L-lactic acid using tetraphenyltin or zinc acetate as a catalyst. The samples of PLA were characterized by terminal group analysis, gel permeation chromatography, infrared analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Polymerization conditions such as the time of reaction and the type of catalyst affected the molecular weight of PLA. Microspheres containing indomethacin were prepared by the oil/water (o/w) solvent evaporation technique using different formulations and process variables. The in vitro release of indornethacin in phosphate buffer was found to be dependent on the molecular weight of PLA and also on the type and amount of adjuvants used. The batch of microspheres containing 5% cholesterol released the drug at a slow controlled rate (29%, 65%. and 85% in 1, 7, and 24 hr, respectively). The results of F test for the microspheres revealed that there is no significant direrence between the Higuchi model and the power law equation. The drug was released by a dimsion mechanism from the microspheres.     

Effects of cellulose derivatives and additives in the spray-drying preparation of acetaminophen delivery systems

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), and ethylcellulose (EC) were used for the production of time-controlled acetaminophen delivery systems using a spray-drying technique. The influence of factors such as polymer concentration, inlet temperature, and drug/polymer ratio were investigated. The product yields were a function of the type and concentration of the polymer, with the highest values being reached from feeds containing 1% MCC and EC. Parameters of 1% polymer concentration and an inlet temperature of 140 degrees C gave rise to optimal processing conditions. Using these parameters, the influence of some adjuncts, such as polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), dibutyl sebacate (DBS), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and carboxylic acids such as citric acid (CA), phthalic acid (PA), succinic acid (SA), tartaric acid (TA), and oxalic acid (OA), on the spray-drying process was evaluated. Of the additives tested, PVP (with MCC), DBS (with EC), and PEG 6000 (with NaCMC) induced yield decreases from 70% to 49%, 66% to 39%, and 37% to 17%, respectively. As for carboxylic acids (with NaCMC), similar or better performances of 43%, 45%, 47%, and 49% were obtained with SA, OA, PA, and TA, respectively. Dissolution studies in pH 1 dilute HCl and pH 6.8 phosphate buffer dissolution media showed that formulations consisting of 1% polymer with a drug/polymer ratio of 1/1 exhibited the slowest drug release, with the spheroids coated with NaCMC and HEC showing the longest T50% values (with 45 and 53 min at pH 1 and 49 and 55 min at pH 6.8, respectively). Slightly better sustained drug release in pH 6.8 dissolution medium was reached, showing the following trend: HEC > NaCMC > MCC > EC > HPMC. Concerning the additives, the trends in dissolution T50% of drug revealed TA > SA > CA > OA > PVP > PA > DBS in acidic pH 1 dissolution medium and PVP > OA > TA > SA > PA > CA > DBS in phosphate buffer at pH 6.8.     

Comparative performance of collagen nanofibers electrospun from different solvents and stabilized by different crosslinkers

Collagen electrospun scaffolds well reproduce the structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural tissues by coupling high biomimetism of the biological material with the fibrous morphology of the protein. Structural properties of collagen electrospun fibers are still a debated subject and there are conflicting reports in the literature addressing the presence of ultrastructure of collagen in electrospun fibers. In this work collagen type I was successfully electrospun from two different solvents, trifluoroethanol (TFE) and dilute acetic acid (AcOH). Characterization of collagen fibers was performed by means of SEM, ATR-IR, Circular Dichroism and WAXD. We demonstrated that collagen fibers contained a very low amount of triple helix with respect to pristine collagen (18 and 16 % in fibers electrospun from AcOH and TFE, respectively) and that triple helix denaturation occurred during polymer dissolution. Collagen scaffolds were crosslinked by using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC), a commonly employed crosslinker for electrospun collagen, and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE), that was tested for the first time in this work as crosslinking agent for collagen in the form of electrospun fibers. We demonstrated that BDDGE successfully crosslinked collagen and preserved at the same time the scaffold fibrous morphology, while scaffolds crosslinked with EDC completely lost their porous structure. Mesenchymal stem cell experiments demonstrated that collagen scaffolds crosslinked with BDDGE are biocompatible and support cell attachment.     

Cross-linking of collagen with laccases and tyrosinases

Oxidation of acid soluble collagen (ASC), collagen suspension and BrCN-peptides (BrCN-P) with tyrosinases from B. obtusa (BoT1, BoT2) and A. bisporus (AbT) and laccases from T. versicolor (TvL) and T. hirsuta (ThL) resulted in UV/VIS peaks at 475 nm and 305 nm indicating formation of reactive o-quinones and cross-linked components. Concomitant oxygen consumption was higher for the low molecular weight enzymes (TvL and BoT2) indicating limited accessibility. SDS-PAGE and SEC bands at higher MW demonstrated the formation of cross-linked material. LC-MS/MS analysis suggested the involvement of tyrosine residues in cross-linking without major changes of sequence similarities to untreated collagen. However, an increase of the SEC α-peak together with a decrease of β-peak and the 1235/1450 cm^? 1 ratio (FTIR) indicated partial degradation. Crosslinking was enhanced by phenolic molecules such as catechine which lead to increased denaturation temperature and reduced degradation by microbial collagenase. The tensile strength was increased whereas resistance to compressive forces was not influenced.     

Extraction and characterization of highly purified collagen from bovine pericardium for potential bioengineering applications

Bovine pericardium is widely used as a raw material in bioengineering as a source of collagen, a fundamental structural molecule. The physical, chemical, and biocompatibility characteristics of these natural fibers enable their broad use in several areas of the health sciences. For these applications, it is important to obtain collagen of the highest possible purity. The lack of a method to produce these pure biocompatible materials using simple and economically feasible techniques presents a major challenge to their production on an industrial scale. This study aimed to extract, purify, and characterize the type I collagen protein originating from bovine pericardium, considered to be an abundant tissue resource. The pericardium tissue was collected from male animals at slaughter age. Pieces of bovine pericardium were enzymatically digested, followed by a novel protocol developed for protein purification using ion-exchange chromatography. The material was extensively characterized by electrophoresis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed a purified material with morphological properties and chemical functionalities compatible with type I collagen and similar to a highly purified commercial collagen. Thus, an innovative and relatively simple processing method was developed to extract and purify type I collagen from bovine tissue with potential applications as a biomaterial for regenerative tissue engineering.     

RGDS和胶原改性聚(DL-乳酸) 的合成与表征

利用马来酸酐(MAH)、丁二胺(BDA)I、型胶原和RGDS粘附多肽依次对聚(DL-乳酸)进行了化学改性,制得了仿生细胞外基质材料——胶原改性聚乳酸(CPLA)和RGDS改性聚乳酸(RGDS-PLA)。采用FT-IR、GPC-MALLS、XPS、罗丹明比色法和茚三酮显色法对MAH改性聚乳酸(MPLA)和BDA改性聚乳酸(BDPLA)进行了定性定量表征,分别采用FITC荧光标记技术和氨基酸分析仪对CPLA和RGDS-PLA进行了定性定量测定。结果表明,按文中所述之制备技术,能将胞外基质组分如胶原和RGDS粘附多肽共价引入到PLA中,形成新型的仿生细胞外基质材料。     

Heparinized hydroxyapatite/collagen three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering

Currently, in bone tissue engineering research, the development of appropriate biomaterials for the regeneration of bony tissues is a major concern. Bone tissue is composed of a structural protein, collagen type I, on which calcium phosphate crystals are enclosed. For tissue engineering, one of the most applied strategies consists on the development and application of three dimensional porous scaffolds with similar composition to the bone. In this way, they can provide a physical support for cell attachment, proliferation, nutrient transport and new bone tissue infiltration. Hydroxyapatite is a calcium phosphate with a similar composition of bone and widely applied in several medical/dentistry fields. Therefore, in this study, hydroxyapatite three dimensional porous scaffolds were produced using the polymer replication method. Next, the porous scaffolds were homogeneously coated with a film of collagen type I by applying vacuum force. Yet, due to collagen degradability properties, it was necessary to perform an adequate crosslinking method. As a result, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) was employed as an efficient and non-toxic crosslinking method in this research. The composites were characterized by means of SEM, DSC and TNBS. Furthermore, heparin was incorporated in order to accomplish sustained delivery of a growth factor of interest namely, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2). BMP-2 binding and release of non-heparinized and heparinized scaffolds was evaluated at specific time points. The incorporation of heparin leads to a reduced initial burst phase when compared to the non heparinized materials. The results show a beneficial effect with the incorporation of heparin and its potential as a localized drug delivery system for the sustained release of growth factors.     

Ⅰ型胶原/海藻酸钠/透明质酸复合水凝胶用于血管组织工程细胞负载与3D培养EI北大核心CSCD

胶原、海藻酸钠和透明质酸是天然来源的高分子材料,具有良好的细胞相容性与生物安全性,在细胞培养、组织工程、药物负载等方面具有广泛应用。单纯的胶原力学性能较差,将胶原与海藻酸钠制备成复合水凝胶材料后,可以通过调节海藻酸钠与Ca^(2+)交联程度来改变水凝胶支架的力学性能和孔隙率,模拟细胞培养的力学环境和细胞微环境。本研究通过PIUMA纳米压痕仪和DHR流变仪表征Ⅰ型胶原/海藻酸钠/透明质酸水凝胶的杨氏模量和溶胶-凝胶转变温度。并将内皮细胞与间充质干细胞在水凝胶微环境内进行3D培养,倒置荧光显微镜观察细胞培养0,3,5,7 d时细胞的活力情况,表征Ⅰ型胶原/海藻酸钠/透明质酸水凝胶的细胞相容性,并在内皮细胞与间充质干细胞培养0,1,4,6 d时,观察内皮细胞的迁移、成血管情况,在培养1,6,9 d时,观察内皮细胞的生长扩散情况。结果表明:水凝胶杨氏模量为(600±81)Pa,水凝胶的溶胶-凝胶转变温度为23.2℃。细胞培养0,3,5,7 d时,活力持续增强,培养4,6 d时,观测到共培养下内皮细胞的迁移,培养1,6,9 d时,水凝胶内的内皮细胞球体持续生长扩散。本工作表明,Ⅰ型胶原/海藻酸钠/透明质酸水凝胶对内皮细胞与间充质干细胞具有良好的细胞相容性,可用于细胞3D培养的理想支架材料。水凝胶的杨氏模量和溶胶-凝胶转变温度对细胞活力无损害,可作为研究血管新生的相关体外模型,在血管组织工程研究中具有重要的应用前景。