Carbodiimide cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogels as cell sheet delivery vehicles: characterization and interaction with corneal endothelial cells.
It was reported that cell-adhesive gelatin discs have been successfully used as delivery vehicles for intraocular grafting of bioengineered corneal endothelial cell sheets. Development of alternative biomaterials to bovine-based gelatin vehicles can potentially eliminate the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. In the present work, to investigate whether it was appropriate for use as cell sheet delivery vehicles, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels were studied by determinations of morphological characteristic, mechanical and thermal property, water content, in vitro degradability and cytocompatibility. Glutaraldehyde (GTA) cross-linked HA samples were used for comparison. It was found that HA discs after cross-linking significantly increased its tensile stress but reduced its tensile strain, water uptake and enzymatic degradability. The results of differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that cross-linking could lead to the alteration of polymer structure. In addition, the EDC-cross-linked HA discs had a smoother surface structure, a faster degradation rate and a relatively lower cytotoxicity as compared to the GTA cross-linked counterparts. It is concluded that EDC can be successfully applied for HA cross-linking to fabricate structurally stable, mechanically reinforced, readily deformable, transparent and cytocompatible HA hydrogel discs with the potential to be applied as delivery vehicles for corneal endothelial cell therapy.
Lu
Pei-Lin
PL
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 30013, Republic of China.
Lai
Jui-Yang
JY
Ma
David Hui-Kang
DH
Hsiue
Ging-Ho
GH
D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide / Q000737:chemistry*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000737:chemistry; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
D020100:Hydrogels; D014867:Water; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide; D005976:Glutaral