title: Triethyl orthoformate mediated a novel crosslinking method for the preparation of hydrogels for tissue engineering applications: characterization and in vitro cytocompatibility analysis.
abstract: This paper describes the development of a new crosslinking method for the synthesis of novel hydrogel films from chitosan and PVA for potential use in various biomedical applications. These hydrogel membranes were synthesized by blending different ratios of chitosan (CS) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solutions and were crosslinked with 2.5% (w/v) triethyl orthoformate (TEOF) in the presence of 17% (w/v) sulfuric acid. The physical/chemical interactions and the presence of specific functional groups in the synthesized materials were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The morphology, structure and pore size of the materials were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) proved that these crosslinked hydrogel films have good thermal stability which was decreased as the CS ratio was increased. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) exhibited that CS and PVA were present in the amorphous form. The solution absorption properties were performed in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of pH7.4. The 20% PVA-80% CS crosslinked hydrogel films showed a greater degree of solution absorption (183%) as compared to other compositions. The hydrogels with greater CS concentration (60% and 80%) demonstrated relatively more porous structure, better cell viability and proliferation and also revealed good blood clotting ability even after crosslinking. Based on the observed facts these hydrogels can be tailored for their potential utilization in wound healing and skin tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan. Electronic address: drmyar@ciitlahore.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yar
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; Department of Chemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sohail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saadat Anwar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Sciences and Chemical Pathology, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauf
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Opposite Sector U, D.H.A., Lahore 54792, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Sabieh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aqif Anwar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, The University of Sheffield, North Campus, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ihtesham ur
authors.initials: Iu
authors.lastname: Rehman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning / Q000379:methods; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Blood coagulation; Chemical crosslinking; Chitosan; PVA; VERO cell line; Wound healing