title: Synthesis and characterization of a temperature-responsive biocompatible poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) cryogel: a step towards designing a novel cell scaffold.
abstract: A poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCl) cryogel and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-co-gelatin interpenetrating cryogel network were synthesized and characterized with respect to physical and biological properties. The PVCl cryogel was synthesized in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing aqueous medium and PVCl-co-gelatin interpenetrating cryogel network was synthesized in water as solvent. Both these cryogel networks have good physical morphology as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The porosity of these cryogels were characterized by various methods like, adsorption of water and cyclohexane and confirmed by analysis on mercury porosimeter and nitrogen adsorption studies. The porosity of PVCl and PVCl-co-gelatin cryogels was 96% and 98%, respectively, and the permeability of the two types of cryogels was 1.01 x 10(-12) m(4)/Ns and 1.66 x 10(-12) m(4)/Ns, respectively. The effective diffusion coefficients (D(eff)) of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in PVCl cryogel and PVCl-co-gelatin cryogel were 3.5 x 10(-7) cm(2)/s and 3.4 x 10(-7) cm(2)/s, respectively. These materials were further characterized to demonstrate its interaction with biological system. The blood compatibility studies showed minimal hemolysis (4-6%) caused by these materials and a very low adsorption of BSA (0.001-0.002 mg/g dry scaffold). However, the fetal bovine serum (FBS) adsorption studies demonstrate the protein binding at 37 degrees C. Furthermore, cytotoxicity test and the fibroblast cell adhesion studies showed the potential of these PVCl-based cryogels for suitable biomaterial applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 208 016-Kanpur, India.
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D019556:COS Cells; D002209:Caprolactam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005780:Gelatin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D016062:Porosity; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; C086861:poly-N-vinylcaprolactam; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D002209:Caprolactam; D005780:Gelatin