Cytocompatible polysaccharide-based functional scaffolds are potential extracellular matrix candidates for soft and hard tissue engineering. This paper describes a facile approach to design cytocompatible, non-toxic, and multifunctional chitosan-cellulose based hydrogel beads utilising polysaccharide dissolution in sodium hydroxide-urea-water solvent system and coagulation under three different acidic conditions, namely 2 M acetic acid, 2 M hydrochloric acid, and 2 M sulfuric acid. The effect of coagulating medium on the final chemical composition of the hydrogel beads is investigated by spectroscopic techniques (ATR–FTIR, Raman, NMR), and elemental analysis. The beads coagulated in 2 M acetic acid displayed an unchanged chitosan composition with free amino groups, while the beads coagulated in 2 M hydrochloric and sulfuric acid showed protonation of amino groups and ionic interaction with the counterions. The ultrastructural morphological study of lyophilized beads showed that increased chitosan content enhanced the porosity of the hydrogel beads. Furthermore, cytocompatibility evaluation of the hydrogel beads with human breast adenocarcinoma cells (soft tissue) showed that the beads coagulated in 2 M acetic acid are the most suitable for this type of cells in comparison to other coagulating systems. The acetic acid fabricated hydrogel beads also support osteoblast growth and adhesion over 192 h. Thus, in future, these hydrogel beads can be tested in the in vitro studies related to breast cancer and for bone regeneration.

The major diastereomer formed in the Barbier-type metal-mediated allylation of d-mannose has previously been shown to adopt a perfectly linear conformation, both in solid state and in solution, resulting in the formation of hydrogen-bonded networks and subsequent aggregation from aqueous solution upon stirring. Here, a comprehensive study of the solid state structure of both the allylated d-mannose and its racemic form has been conducted. The binary melting point diagram of the system was determined by differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and the obtained results, along with structure determination by single crystal X-ray diffraction, confirmed that allylated mannose forms a true racemate. Further examination by powder X-ray diffraction and CP MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy revealed polymorphism both in the pure enantiomer and in the racemate. In addition, the propargylated and hydrogenated analogues of allylated d-mannose were prepared and subjected to thermal and spectroscopic analyses. The crystal structure of the propargylated compound was successfully determined, showing a linear molecular conformation similar to that found for allylated d-mannose. Both new compounds likewise display aggregation behavior in water, further verifying that the low-energy linear conformation plays a significant role in this unusual behavior of these rodlike mannose derivatives.

An improved method for the propargylation of d-mannose and application of the rod-like polyol and its allylated analogue in click reactions is described.

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