title: Synthesis, characterization, and biocompatible properties of alanine-grafted chitosan copolymers.
abstract: In order to overcome major problems regarding the lack of affinity to solvents and limited reactivity of the free amines of chitosan, introduction of appropriate spacer arms having terminal amine function is considered of interest. L-Alanine-N-carboxyanhydride was grafted onto chitosan via anionic ring-opening polymerization. The chemical and structural characterizations of L-alanine-grafted chitosan (Ala-g-Cts) were confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR). In addition, the viscoelastic properties of Ala-g-Cts were examined by means of a rotational viscometer, and thermal analysis was carried out with a thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphological changes in the chitosan L-alanine moiety were determined by x-ray diffraction. To determine the feasibility of using these films as biomedical materials, we investigated the effects of their L-alanine content on physical and mechanical properties. The biodegradation results of crosslinked Ala-g-Cts films were evaluated in phosphate-buffered solution containing lysozyme at 37℃. Proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells on crosslinked Ala-g-Cts films was also investigated with use of the CCK-8 assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyu Han
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Sil
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea Division of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea msgong@dankook.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Myoung-Seon
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002645:Chickens; D048271:Chitosan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan; D009113:Muramidase; D000409:Alanine
keywords: Chitosan; L-alanine-NCA; MC3T3-E1 cells; biocompatibility; graft polymer