title: Preparation, characterization and cytocompatibility of polyurethane/cellulose based liquid crystal composite membranes.
abstract: Two types of polyurethane/liquid crystal (PU/LC) composite membranes with different LC contents, namely polyurethane/octyl hydroxypropyl cellulose ester (PU/OPC) and polyurethane/propyl hydroxypropyl cellulose ester (PU/PPC), were prepared and studied. The effects of surface properties on cell compatibility of the membranes were elucidated. PPC tended to assemble to independent phases in the composite membranes, while OPC formed uniformly distributed LC domains. As the introduction of LC, phase separation occurred, and the crystallization of PU was disrupted. The surface of PU/LC composite membranes showed fingerprint texture and two-phase morphology. Hydrophilicity of the two types of composite membranes exhibited a reversal tendency with the increase of LC contents. Cells seeded on the composite membranes presented favorable growth when the content of LC was over 30%, especially on PU/OPC complex. The surface morphology, phase separation between LC and PU as well as the type of LC showed significant effects on the cell behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
authors.forename: Wanqing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jianhao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Changren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D051379:Mice; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011140:Polyurethanes; D002482:Cellulose