title: Oxidized dextrins as alternative crosslinking agents for polysaccharides: application to hydrogels of agarose-chitosan.
abstract: Hydrogel networks that combine suitable physical and biomechanical characteristics for tissue engineering scaffolds are in demand. The aim of this work was the development of hydrogel networks based on agarose and chitosan using oxidized dextrins as low cytotoxicity crosslinking agents, paying special attention to the study of the influence of the polysaccharide composition and oxidation degree of the dextrins in the final characteristics of the network. The results show that the formation of an interpenetrating or a semi-interpenetrating polymer network was mainly dependent on a minimum agarose content and degree of oxidation of dextrin. Spectroscopic, thermal and swelling analysis revealed good compatibility with an absence of phase separation of polysaccharides at agarose:chitosan proportions of 50:50 and 25:75. The analysis of atomic force microscopy images showed the formation of a fibrillar microstructure whose distribution within the crosslinked chitosan depended mainly on the crosslinker. All materials exhibited the viscoelastic behaviour typical of gels, with a constant storage modulus independent of frequency for all compositions. The stiffness was strongly influenced by the degree of oxidation of the crosslinker. Cellular response to the hydrogels was studied with cells of different strains, and cell adhesion and proliferation was correlated with the homogeneity of the samples and their elastic properties. Some hydrogel formulations seemed to be candidates for tissue engineering applications such as wound healing or soft tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: CIBER-BBN, Ebro River Campus, R&D Building, Block 5, Floor 1, Poeta Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50017 Zaragoza, Spain; Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gómez-Mascaraque
authors.affiliation: Escola Politècnica Superior, Edifici PI, Campus Montilivi, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: José Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.affiliation: CIBER-BBN, Ebro River Campus, R&D Building, Block 5, Floor 1, Poeta Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50017 Zaragoza, Spain; Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: CIBER-BBN, Ebro River Campus, R&D Building, Block 5, Floor 1, Poeta Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50017 Zaragoza, Spain; Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: bvazquez@ictp.csic.es.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: CIBER-BBN, Ebro River Campus, R&D Building, Block 5, Floor 1, Poeta Mariano Esquillor s/n, 50017 Zaragoza, Spain; Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: San Román
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003912:Dextrins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D058105:Polymerization; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012685:Sepharose / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014783:Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003912:Dextrins; D020100:Hydrogels; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014867:Water; D012685:Sepharose; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Agarose; Chitosan; Hydrogels; Oxidized dextrins; Viscoelastic properties