title: Ulvan and ulvan/chitosan polyelectrolyte nanofibrous membranes as a potential substrate material for the cultivation of osteoblasts.
abstract: A new generation of biomaterials composed of the natural polysaccharides, ulvans extracted from the green seaweed Ulva rigida and chitosan have been investigated. Ulvan, chitosan alone and ulvan/chitosan polyelectrolyte membranes have been synthesised and characterised. The structure of the membranes was altered by the weight ratio of the polyion components. Fibrous and nanofibrous morphology was created, in accordance with a supramolecular self assembly. ATR-FTIR measurements suggested the presence of both polycationic chitosan and polyanionic ulvan in the polyelectrolyte membranes. The cytocompatibility of these new materials was examined by fluorescence microscopy. The results show that ulvan as well as ulvan/chitosan membranes promoted the attachment and proliferation of 7F2 osteoblasts and maintained the cell morphology and viability. Thus, ulvan and chitosan which possess unique properties might have high impact in biomedical applications as potential scaffold materials.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM), Dresden University of Technology, Hohestr. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toskas
authors.affiliation: Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Institute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology, Budapester Str. 27, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.affiliation: Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Institute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology, Budapester Str. 27, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM), Dresden University of Technology, Hohestr. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Chokri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cherif
authors.affiliation: Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM), Dresden University of Technology, Hohestr. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf-Dieter
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hund
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roussis
authors.affiliation: Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials and Institute of Materials Science, Dresden University of Technology, Budapester Str. 27, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D057139:Nanofibers; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011134:Polysaccharides; C571831:ulvan; D048271:Chitosan