title: Maltose-conjugated chitosans induce macroscopic gelation of pectin solutions at neutral pH.
abstract: Injectable polymer scaffolds are particularly attractive for guided tissue growth and drug/cell delivery with minimally invasive intervention. In the present work, "all-polymeric" gelling systems based on pectins and water-soluble maltose-conjugated chitosans (CM) have been developed. Maltose-conjugated chitosan has been synthesized at three different molar ratios, as evaluated by FITR analysis and fluorimetric titration. A thorough rheological characterization of the blends and their parent solutions has been performed. Macroscopic gelation has been achieved by mixing the high esterification degree pectins with CM at higher maltose grafted to chitosan contents. Gels form in a few minutes and reach their full strength in less than two hours. These features encourage their further development as scaffold for tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica (Palermo Unit), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via U. La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: daniela.giacomazza@cnr.it.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giacomazza
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Gestionale, Informatica, Meccanica, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 8, 90128 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: mariaantonietta.sabatino@unipa.it.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 17, 90100 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: albertoc_89@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica (Palermo Unit), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via U. La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 17, 90100 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: clelia.dispenza@unipa.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica (Palermo Unit), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via U. La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: pierluigi.sanbiagio@cnr.it.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: San Biagio
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica (Palermo Unit), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via U. La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Gestionale, Informatica, Meccanica, Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 8, 90128 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: clelia.dispenza@unipa.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dispenza
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008320:Maltose / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010368:Pectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D012996:Solutions; D008320:Maltose; D010368:Pectins; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Biocompatible materials; Hydrogels; Maltose-conjugated chitosan; Pectin; Rheology