title: HLC/pullulan and pullulan hydrogels: their microstructure, engineering process and biocompatibility.
abstract: New locally injectable biomaterials that are suitable for use as soft tissue fillers are needed to address a significant unmet medical need. In this study, we used pullulan and human-like collagen (HLC) based hydrogels with various molecular weights (MWs) in combination therapy against tissue defects. Briefly, pullulan was crosslinked with NaIO4 to form a pullulan hydrogel and then may coupled with HLC using the reaction between the -NH2 end-group of HLC and the -CHO group present on the aldehyde pullulan to form the HLC/pullulan hydrogel, wherein the NaIO4 acted as the crosslinking and oxidizing agent. The good miscibility of pullulan and HLC in the hydrogels was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, compression testing, enzyme degradation testing, cell adhesions, live/dead staining and subcutaneous filling assays. Here, pullulan hydrogels with various MWs were fabricated and physicochemically characterized. Limitations of the pullulan hydrogels included inflammation, poor mechanical strength, and degradation. By contrast, the properties of the HLC/pullulan hydrogels strongly enhanced. The efficacy of these hydrogels was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that HLC/pullulan hydrogels may have therapeutic value as efficient soft tissue fillers, with reduced inflammation, improved cell adhesion and delayed hydrogel degradation.
authors.affiliation: College of chemistry & materials science, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shannxi provincial institute of microbiology, Xi' an 710043, China.
authors.forename: Wenjiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Weina
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China. Electronic address: fandaidi@nwu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Daidi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
authors.forename: Chenhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of chemistry & materials science, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China. Electronic address: wyaoyu@nwu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yaoyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005936:Glucans; D020100:Hydrogels; C009109:pullulan; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Biodegradation; HLC/pullulan hydrogels; NaIO(4); Pullulan hydrogels; Subcutaneous