Alginate Bioconjugate and Graphene Oxide in Multifunctional Hydrogels for Versatile Biomedical Applications

Abstract

In this work, we combined electrically-conductive graphene oxide and a sodium alginate-caffeic acid conjugate, acting as a functional element, in an acrylate hydrogel network to obtain multifunctional materials designed to perform multiple tasks in biomedical research. The hybrid material was found to be well tolerated by human fibroblast lung cells (MRC-5) (viability higher than 94%) and able to modify its swelling properties upon application of an external electric field. Release experiments performed using lysozyme as the model drug, showed a pH and electro-responsive behavior, with higher release amounts and rated in physiological vs. acidic pH. Finally, the retainment of the antioxidant properties of caffeic acid upon conjugation and polymerization processes (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity values of 1.77 and 1.48, respectively) was used to quench the effect of hydrogen peroxide in a hydrogel-assisted lysozyme crystallization procedure.

Curcumin and Graphene Oxide Incorporated into Alginate Hydrogels as Versatile Devices for the Local Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…These results may be related to both chemical and biological reasons. At first, the adopted synthetic strategy should be taken into consideration to explain the differences between the obtained results and the available data from the literature, which claim the complete non-toxicity of hybrid alginate- and graphene-oxide-based systems, including those of our research group [ 61 ]. In this study, the GO-to-hydrogel ratio (2%) was significantly higher than those previously employed (1.15%); thus, cells were exposed to different amounts of GO, and the crosslinking step consisted of a simple ionic gelation without the need for other reactants (such as the highly biocompatible acrylate monomers that were previously employed), which could also act as an obstacle to the direct interactions of the hydrogel and cell membrane.…”

Polymeric Biomaterials for the Treatment of Cardiac Post-Infarction Injuries

“…The work of Scalera et al was designed to address the limitation of the low electro-conductivity of CHI-based materials [ 147 ]. In detail, due to the well-known possibility to improve the conductivity of different types of biomaterials by incorporation of carbon nanostructures [ 155 ], the authors focused their attention on the production of graphitic materials from natural sources, and from pyrolyzed cork in particular. The investigation of the scaffold properties clearly proved the enhanced conductivity and mechanical properties of CHI materials upon incorporation of inorganic carbon, without affecting the high biocompatibility and the degradation patterns.…”

Strong and tough, pH sensible, interpenetrating network hydrogels based on gelatin and poly(methacrylic acid)

“…(m = 0.40 ml/ml MAA, g = 0.2 g/ml gelatin, r = mol/mol  10 2 MBA/MAA) in vitro model to check the toxicity of different kinds of biologically oriented materials. [79] On the other hand, PDLSCs are periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stem cells, which can be easily found in dental clinics as discarded biological samples. Therefore, in vitro cytocompatibility test with PDLSCs may match the in vivo situation better for TE intended hydrogels.…”