title: Poly(L-glutamic acid)/chitosan polyelectrolyte complex porous microspheres as cell microcarriers for cartilage regeneration.
abstract: In this study a novel kind of porous poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLGA)/chitosan polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) microsphere was developed through electrostatic interaction between PLGA and chitosan. By adjusting the formula parameters chitosan microspheres with an average pore size of 47.5 ± 5.4 μm were first developed at a concentration of 2 wt.% and freeze temperature of -20 °C. For self-assembly of the PEC microspheres porous chitosan microspheres were then incubated in PLGA solution at 37 °C. Due to electrostatic interaction a large amount of PLGA (110.3 μg mg(-1)) was homogeneously absorbed within the chitosan microspheres. The developed PEC microspheres retained their original size, pore diameters and interconnected porous structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis and zeta potential analysis revealed that the PEC microspheres were successfully prepared through electrostatic interaction. Compared with microspheres fabricated from chitosan, the porous PEC microspheres were shown to efficiently promote chondrocyte attachment and proliferation. After injection subcutaneously for 8 weeks PEC microspheres loaded with chondrocytes were found to produce significant more cartilaginous matrix than chitosan microspheres. These results indicate that these novel fabricated porous PLGA/chitosan PEC microspheres could be used as injectable cell carriers for cartilage tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Materials, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005453:Fluorescence; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D016062:Porosity; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D055672:Static Electricity; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Microspheres; Poly(l-glutamic acid); Polyelectrolyte complex