Chitosan Poly(vinyl alcohol) Methacrylate Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

• Published in: ACS applied bio materials Vol. 7; no. 12; pp. 7818 - 7827
• Main Authors: Thai, Nghia Le Ba, Beaman, Henry T., Perlman, Megan, Obeng, Ernest E., Du, Changling, Monroe, Mary Beth B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 16.12.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemical synthesis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Biocompatible Materials - chemical synthesis; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chitosan - chemistry; Forum; Hydrogels - chemical synthesis; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Materials Testing; Methacrylates - chemistry; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Structure; NIH 3T3 Cells; Particle Size; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Antimicrobial; Cytocompatbility; Poly(vinyl alcohol); Chitosan; Hydrogels; Tissue Engineering
• ISSN: 2576-6422; 2576-6422
• DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01209

A major challenge in tissue engineering scaffolds is controlling scaffold degradation rates during healing while maintaining mechanical properties to support tissue formation. Hydrogels are three-dimensional matrices that are widely applied as tissue scaffolds based on their unique properties that can mimic the extracellular matrix. In this study, we develop a hybrid natural/synthetic hydrogel platform to tune the properties for tissue engineering scaffold applications. We modified chitosan and poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with photo-cross-linkable methacrylate functional groups and then synthesized a library of chitosan PVA methacrylate hydrogels (ChiPVAMA) with two different photoinitiators, Irgacure 2959 (I2959) and lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP). ChiPVAMA hydrogels showed tunability in degradation rates and mechanical properties based on both the polymer content and photoinitiator type. This tunability could enable their application in a range of tissue scaffold applications. In a 2D scratch wound healing assay, all hydrogel samples induced faster wound closure compared to a gauze clinical wound dressing control. NIH/3T3 cells encapsulated in hydrogels showed a high viability (∼92%) over 14 days, demonstrating the capacity of this system as a supportive cell scaffold. In addition, hydrogels containing a higher chitosan content demonstrated a high antibacterial capacity. Overall, ChiPVAMA hydrogels provide a potential tissue engineering scaffold that is tunable, degradable, and suitable for cell growth.