title: Development of nanocellulose scaffolds with tunable structures to support 3D cell culture.
abstract: Swollen three-dimensional nanocellulose films and their resultant aerogels were prepared as scaffolds towards tissue engineering application. The nanocellulose hydrogels with various swelling degree (up to 500 times) and the resultant aerogels with desired porosity (porosity up to 99.7% and specific surface area up to 308m(2)/g) were prepared by tuning the nanocellulose charge density, the swelling media conditions, and the material processing approach. Representative cell-based assays were applied to assess the material biocompatibility and efficacy of the human extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking nanocellulose scaffolds. The effects of charge density and porosity of the scaffolds on the biological tests were investigated for the first time. The results reveal that the nanocellulose scaffolds could promote the survival and proliferation of tumor cells, and enhance the transfection of exogenous DNA into the cells. These results suggest the usefulness of the nanocellulose-based matrices in supporting crucial cellular processes during cell growth and proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Johan Gadolin Process Chemistry Centre, c/o Laboratory Wood and Paper Chemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Porthansgatan 3, Åbo/Turku, 20500, Finland. Electronic address: jun.liu@abo.fi.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland; Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20521, Finland.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Johan Gadolin Process Chemistry Centre, Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Biskopsgatan 8, Åbo/Turku, 20500, Finland.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grénman
authors.affiliation: Polymer Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 16100, Aalto, 00076, Finland.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spoljaric
authors.affiliation: Polymer Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 16100, Aalto, 00076, Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seppälä
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland; Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20521, Finland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: E Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Johan Gadolin Process Chemistry Centre, c/o Laboratory Wood and Paper Chemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Porthansgatan 3, Åbo/Turku, 20500, Finland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willför
authors.affiliation: Johan Gadolin Process Chemistry Centre, c/o Laboratory Wood and Paper Chemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Porthansgatan 3, Åbo/Turku, 20500, Finland. Electronic address: cxu@abo.fi.
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D016062:Porosity; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Aerogel; Cell culture; Hydrogel; Nanocellulose; Scaffold; Tissue engineering