title: Thermoresponsive cellulosic hydrogels with cell-releasing behavior.
abstract: Here we report the preparation and characterization of thermoresponsive cellulosic hydrogels with cell-releasing behavior. Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) was modified with methacrylic anhydride (MA). The resultant macromonomer, HPC-MA, retains the characteristic thermoresponsive phase behavior of HPC, with an onset temperature of 36 °C and a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 37-38 °C, as determined by turbidity measurement. Homogenous HPC-MA hydrogels were prepared by UV-cross-linking the aqueous solutions of the macromonomer at room temperature, and characterized by water contact angle and swelling ratio measurements, and dynamic mechanical analysis. These hydrogels exhibit temperature-dependent surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, equilibrium water content as well as mechanical properties. Cell-releasing characteristics were demonstrated using African green monkey kidney cell line (COS-7 cells) and murine-derived embryonic stem cell line (Oct4b2). By reducing temperature to 4 °C, the cultivated cells spontaneously detached from the hydrogels without the need of trypsin treatment. These unique properties make our HPC-MA hydrogels potential substrates for cell sheet engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Australia.
authors.forename: Siew P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hoo
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarvi
authors.forename: Wai Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peggy P Y
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Zhilian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D060846:Cell Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D002482:Cellulose; C008079:hydroxypropylcellulose