title: Property peculiarities of the atelocollagen-hyaluronan conjugates crosslinked with a short chain di-oxirane compound.
abstract: Minimal amounts of a short-chain bifunctional crosslinker of about 1.3 nm length, the 1,4-butanediol-diglycidyl ether (BDDGE), were used to generate atelocollagen-hyaluronan conjugates in hydrogel state. Two a priori constraints were considered in recipe/procedure developing: (i) working in nondenaturing conditions, and (ii) ensuring a low cytotoxicity of the final product. Both atelocollagen (aK) and hyaluronan (NaHyal) were accurately purified to reduce their molecular-weight dispersity, in order to ensure the reproducibility of hydrogels characteristics. 1:5 aK:NaHyal weight ratios and 1:2.5 to 1:5 α-NH2:BDDGE molar ratios were found to be the most favorable recipe prescriptions that allow the obtaining of rheo-mechanically stable hydrogels, able to be manipulated during cell culturing protocols. Experiments revealed two unexpected effects due to the crosslinking reactions mediated by a short-chain molecule: (i) the occurrence of two thresholds in the rheological behavior of the hydrogels, related with the amount of added crosslinker, and (ii) a quasi-denaturation side-effect induced over the protein component by large or in excess amounts of crosslinker.
authors: Department of Textiles and Leather Chemistry, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700050, Romania.
authors: Vasilica
authors: V
authors: Maier
authors: Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700050, Romania; Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IPREM, Helioparc, 64053 PAU cedex 9, France.
authors: Cristina M
authors: CM
authors: Lefter
authors: Department of Textiles and Leather Chemistry, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700050, Romania. Electronic address: smaier@ch.tuiasi.ro.
authors: Stelian S
authors: SS
authors: Maier
authors: Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, "Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115, Romania.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Butnaru
authors: Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700050, Romania.
authors: Maricel
authors: M
authors: Danu
authors: Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700050, Romania.
authors: Constanta
authors: C
authors: Ibanescu
authors: Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, 700050, Romania.
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Popa
authors: Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IPREM, Helioparc, 64053 PAU cedex 9, France.
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Desbrieres
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; C059821:atelocollagen; C061799:dioxirane; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Atelocollagen; Crosslinking; Hyaluronan; Hydrogels; Oxirane; Short chain