title: Studies on a novel gelatin sponge: preparation and characterization of cross-linked gelatin scaffolds using 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide as a zero-length cross-linker.
abstract: We prepared a novel porous gelatin (GEL) sponge which was cross-linked (CL) with a zero-length crosslinker of 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide (CMPI), and compared CPMI with 1-ethyl-3,3-dimethylaminoproplycarbodiimide (EDC). The ninhydrin assay indicated that the CMPI-CL-GEL sponge had a higher degree of cross-linking than the EDC-CL-GEL sponge at cross-linking saturation. In contrast, the EDC-CL-GEL sponge demonstrated poor water uptake and a much slower enzymatic degradation rate than the CMPI-CL-GEL sponge. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the gelatin sponge fabricated using a gradient frozen-lyophilization method showed uniformly distributed and interconnected pores. Human 3T3 fibroblasts were successfully seeded onto the scaffolds, and cell proliferation was sustained on all CL-GEL sponges. CMPI-CL-GEL sponges demonstrated significantly increased cell numbers after day 1, and cell numbers steadily rose from day 1 to 12. Meanwhile, the CMPI-CL-GEL sponge had a higher cell number than the EDC-CL-GEL sponge (P < 0.05) by day 4. In vitro studies with 3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated an increased cell viability for those cells grown on sponges cross-linked with CMPI compared to those cross-linked with EDC. SEM images revealed attachment and spreading of cells, the CMPI-CL-GEL sponges had more cells that had elongated, migrated, and formed interconnected networks with neighboring cells.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, PO Box 90048-700, Sanhsia, Taipei 237, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ming-Kung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Yan-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Chieh-Shen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Kuang-Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yao-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Jenn-Jong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Po-Da
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D017364:Collagenases / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009555:Ninhydrin / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin; D013499:Surface Properties; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds; D014867:Water; C048173:2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium; D005780:Gelatin; D017364:Collagenases; D009555:Ninhydrin