Effect of crosslinking processing on the chemical structure and biocompatibility of a chitosan-based hydrogel

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 354; p. 129476
• Main Authors: Yang, Jingwen, Liang, Gangqiang, Xiang, Tuo, Situ, Wenbei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 30.08.2021
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Caco-2 Cells; Caco2 cell viability; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chitosan - chemistry; Crosslinked chitosan hydrogel; Humans; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Hydrophilic surface; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Polyphosphates - chemistry; Static Electricity; Structural change; Swelling capacity; EE; Hydrophilic surface; Caco2 cell viability; GI; Swelling capacity; ATR-FTIR; STPP; Crosslinked chitosan hydrogel; MTT; CS; BSA; SIF; NMR; SGF; SCF; SEM; SHMP; Structural change
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129476

•By different crosslinker, the internal structure of CS-based hydrogel was changed.•The STPP-crosslinked CS hydrogel showed the ability of colon-site delivery.•With the hydrophilic surface and –NH2, the hydrogel showed well cell proliferation.•The STPP-crosslinked hydrogel was safe for colon-site delivery with cell adhesivity. Chitosan (CS)-based hydrogels with different structures were prepared to ensure the bioavailability of bioactive components. With the electrostatic interaction between CS and anionic crosslinkers, the structure of the CS-based hydrogel changed and influenced the swelling ability, which was beneficial for maintaining bioactive ingredients in the hydrogel. Compared with sodium hexametaphosphate, hydrogels crosslinked by sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) had a higher swelling capacity and more stable release profile (no more than 10% BSA in the upper gastrointestinal tract), which could deliver bioactive ingredients to the colon. Moreover, due to electrostatic interactions, the surface of the CS-based hydrogel became hydrophilic, which helped Caco2 cells to grow on it. 118.86%–147.22% cell viability was found on the CS-based hydrogel. Furthermore, with different crosslinkers and concentrations in the crosslinking process, the release properties and safety of the hydrogels were varied, but the STPP-crosslinked CS hydrogel presented good cell adhesivity for bioactive components to the colon.