title: Branched chitosans II: Effects of branching on degradation, protein adsorption and cell growth properties.
abstract: The demand for biodegradable implant materials has fueled interest in chitosan as a biomaterial. In previous work, branched chitosans were synthesized and structurally characterized. In this study the biological properties of branched chitosans were explored. Branched chitosans were synthesized by grafting low molecular weight chitosan chains (1.6, 16 and 80 kDa) to high molecular weight (600 kDa) linear chitosans via reductive amination. Films of the branched materials were evaluated with regard to: lysozyme-mediated degradation; protein adsorption; cell adhesion and proliferation. Branched chitosan with a 1.6 kDa branch length exhibited higher degradation rates than either linear or higher branch length materials. Branched chitosans also exhibited reduced adsorption of bovine serum albumin that was more pronounced with thicker films. Branched chitosans supported proliferation of rat endothelial cells, but growth rates were significantly lower than on linear chitosan. The results of this study demonstrate that control of many aspects of chitosan's physical and biological properties can be achieved by changes in molecular architecture.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202, United States.
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Howard W T
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Matthew
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D009113:Muramidase; D051381:Rats; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions; D019096:Vitronectin / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D012996:Solutions; D019096:Vitronectin; D014867:Water; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D048271:Chitosan; D009113:Muramidase