Evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of carrageenan-based hydrogels.
Carrageenans are highly sulphated galactans, well-known for their thermogelation properties which have been extensively exploited in food and cosmetics industry but poorly explored in the biomedicine field. In this study, we have assessed the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of κ-carrageenan hydrogels that have been explored for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the materials using a L929 mouse fibroblast cell line was evaluated, and the effect of κ-carrageenan hydrogels on the activation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils cells (hPMNs) was also evaluated by the quantification of reactive oxygen species by chemiluminescence. Subsequently, the inflammatory/immune reaction to κ-carrageenan hydrogels on subcutaneous implantation was studied in rats. Explants were retrieved after 1 and 2 weeks of implantation for histological and RT-PCR analysis. The cytotoxicity screening revealed that κ-carrageenan hydrogels did not significantly affect L929 metabolic activity. Moreover, hPMNs contact with κ-carrageenan resulted in a reduced and a neglectable signal regarding the detection of superoxide and hydroxyl anions, respectively. The results from the in vivo experiments indicated that κ-carrageenan induce a low inflammatory response. Overall, the data obtained suggest that κ-carrageenan hydrogels are biocompatible and thus can be further studied for their use in target biomedical applications.
3B's Research Group-Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909, Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Elena G
EG
Popa
Pedro P
PP
Carvalho
Ana F
AF
Dias
Tírcia C
TC
Santos
Vitor E
VE
Santo
Alexandra P
AP
Marques
Carlos A
CA
Viegas
Isabel R
IR
Dias
Manuela E
ME
Gomes
Rui L
RL
Reis
D000818:Animals; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
D020100:Hydrogels; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D002351:Carrageenan
adipose derived stem cells; cartilage tissue engineering; chondrogenic differentiation; hydrogels; κ-carrageenan