This work focused on studying the effect of blending gelatin (Gel) with Cellulose (Cel), in the presence of montmorillonite (MMT), on the swelling behavior, in vitro degradation and surface morphology. Additionally, the effect of the prepared biocomposites on the characteristics of the human osteosarcoma cells (Saos-2), including proliferation, scaffold/cells interactions, apoptosis and their potential of the cells to induce osteogenesis and differentiation was evaluated. The crosslinked biocomposites with glutaraldehyde (GA) or N,N-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA) was prepared via an intercalation process and freeze-drying technique. Properties including SEM morphology, X-ray diffraction characterization and in vitro biodegradation were investigated. The successful generation of 3-D biomimetic porous scaffolds incorporating Saos-2 cells indicated their potential for de novo bone formation that exploits cell-matrix interactions. In vitro studies revealed that the scaffolds containing 12 and 6% MMT crosslinked by 5 and 0.5% GA seem to be the two most efficient and effective biodegradable scaffolds, which promoted Saos-2 cells proliferation, migration, expansion, adhesion, penetration, spreading, and differentiation, respectively. MMT improved cytocompatibility between the osteoblasts and the biocomposite. In vitro analysis indicated good biocompatibility of the scaffold and presents the scaffold as a new potential candidate as suitable biohybrid material for tissue engineering.

No abstract

No abstract

This work was aimed to study the effect of natural polyphenols extract (Acacia nilotica bark) on physicochemical properties of crosslinked gelatin-poly(acrylamideco-acrylic acid), Gel-poly(AAm-co-Ac), polymeric biocomposite film. Gelatin-based composite films have extensive application as biocompatible biomaterial as drug carriers, cosmetics, and agricultural food packaging. The prepared composite films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in addition to the swelling and degradation behavior. UV-Vis absorption spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were also applied to observe the interaction between Gel-poly(AAm-co-Ac) and natural polyphenol (catechin). The study has demonstrated that the involvement of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions as the major forces involved in the stabilization of gelatin-based polymeric biocomposite film by the plant polyphenols (catechin and gallic acid derivatives). Thermal stability studies of crosslinked gelatin-based composite film revealed that A. nilotica bark extract stabilizes the gelatin molecules and leads to moderate increase of the denaturation temperatures relative to the uncrosslinked one.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The increasing use of plastics and their nonbiodegradability have raised environmental awareness and hence there is a need for the development of environmentally friendly degradable materials. One of the ways to reach this goal is via the modification of the synthetic polymer, modified polyethylene (MPE), with protein, collagen hydrolyzate (CH). CH is a biopolymer isolated from hide/skin fleshing of untanned solid waste from the leather industry after enzymatic hydrolysis. An investigation on the blending of MPE with CH using polymer melt technique is reported. The resulting thermoplastic films were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), in addition to simulated soil burial respirometric testing. It is interesting to note that CH easily blends with MPE, but like other biopolymers, it also has effects on the original mechanical properties of the MPE. The CH addition in the blend significantly increases the biodegradation rate. The effect of CH on MPE biodegradability has been investigated. About 53% biodegradation is observed, after 24 days, when the polymer is blended with 5% CH and about 63% biodegradation is found in the case of polymer blended with 20% CH. Although MPE/CH thermoplastic film with 40% CH have shown better performance in biodegradation, the mechanical strength properties were rather poor in this case. The optimum thermoplastic film composition for blending of CH with MPE is about 10-20 wt % CH, which retains an acceptable range of compatibility, mechanical strength, and biodegradability.