title: Effect of charge and molecular weight on the functionality of gelatin carriers for corneal endothelial cell therapy.
abstract: Cell transplantation strategies usually involve the use of supporting carrier materials because of the soft and fragile nature of these grafts. In this work, a cell-adhesive gelatin hydrogel carrier was fabricated to deliver cultivated human corneal endothelial cell (HCEC) sheets, which were harvested from thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-grafted culture surfaces. The carrier disks, consisting of gelatins with a different isoelectric point (IEP = 5.0 and 9.0) and a molecular weight (MW) ranging from 3 to 100 kDa, were subjected to 16.6 kGy gamma irradiation for sterilization. The effect of IEP and MW of the raw gelatins (i.e., before irradiation) on the functionality of sterilized disks was studied by determinations of mechanical property, water content, dissolution degree, and cytocompatibility. Irrespective of the IEP of raw gelatin, hydrogel disks prepared with high MW (100 kDa) exhibited a greater tensile strength, lower water content, and slower dissolution rate than those made of low MW gelatin (8 and 3 kDa). From the investigation of cellular responses to the disks, the negatively charged gelatin (IEP = 5.0) groups were more cytocompatible when compared with their positively charged counterparts (IEP = 9.0) at the same MW (100 kDa). Additionally, in the negatively charged gelatin groups, only a slight increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was observed with increasing MW of gelatin from 3 to 100 kDa. It is concluded that the gamma-sterilized hydrogel disks made from raw gelatins (IEP = 5.0, MW = 100 kDa) with appropriate dissolution degree and acceptable cytocompatibility are capable of providing stable mechanical support, making these carriers promising candidates for intraocular delivery of cultivated HCEC sheets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013, ROC.
authors.forename: Jui-Yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Pei-Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ko-Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Ging-Ho
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hsiue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011817:Rabbits; D013499:Surface Properties; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014867:Water; D005780:Gelatin