title: Evaluation of cross-linking methods for electrospun gelatin on cell growth and viability.
abstract: The creation of a tissue engineering scaffold via electrospinning that has minimal toxicity and uses a solvent system composed of solvents with low toxicity and different cross-linking agents was investigated. First, a solvent system of acetic acid/ethyl acetate/water (50:30:20) with gelatin as a solute was evaluated. The optimum system for electrospinning a scaffold with the desired properties resulted from a gelatin concentration of 10 wt %. Several different methods were used to cross-link the electrospun gelatin fibers, including vapor-phase glutaraldehyde, aqueous phase genipin, and glyceraldehyde, as well as reactive oxygen species from a plasma cleaner. Because glutaraldehyde at high concentrations has been shown to be toxic, we explored other cross-linking methods. Using reactive oxygen species from a plasma cleaner is an easy alternative; however, the degradation reaction dominated the cross-linking reaction and the scaffolds degraded after only a few hours in aqueous medium at 37 °C. Glyceraldehyde and genipin were established as good options for cross-linking agents because of the low toxicity of these cross-linkers and the resistance to dissolution of the cross-linked fibers in cell culture medium at 37 °C. MG63 osteoblastic cells were grown on each of the cross-linked scaffolds. A proliferation assay showed that the cells proliferated as well or better on the cross-linked scaffolds than on traditional two-dimensional polystyrene culture plates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sisson
authors.forename: Chu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Farach-Carson
authors.forename: D Bruce
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Chase
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rabolt
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008722:Methods; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D012997:Solvents; D005780:Gelatin