Comparative study of poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds coated with chitosan nanoparticles prepared via ultrasonication and ionic gelation techniques

Abstract

In this study, an attempt was made to develop bi-functional constructs serving both as scaffolds and potential delivery systems for application in neural tissue engineering. The constructs were prepared in two steps. In the first step, the bulks of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) in 1, 4-dioxane/water (87:13) were fabricated using liquid-liquid thermally induced phase separation technique. In the next step, the prepared bulks were coated with chitosan nanoparticles produced by two different techniques of ultrasonication and ionic gelation by grafting-coating technique. In ultrasonication technique, the chitosan solution (2 mg/mL) in acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer (90:10) was irradiated by an ultrasound generator at 20 kHz and power output of 750 W for 100 s. In ionic gelation technique, the tripolyphosphate in water solution (1 mg/mL) was added to the same chitosan solution. The physicochemical properties of the products were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform-Infrared, liquid displacement technique, contact angle measurement, compressive and tensile tests, as well as zeta potential and particle size analysis using dynamic light scattering. Moreover, the cell proliferation and attachment on the scaffolds were evaluated through human glioblastoma cell line (U-87 MG) and human neuroblastoma cell line [BE (2)-C] culture respectively. The results showed that the samples coated with chitosan nanoparticles prepared by ultrasonication possessed enhanced hydrophilicity, biodegradation and cytocompatibility compared with pure PLLA and PLLA coated with chitosan nanoparticles prepared by ionic gelation. This study suggests successful nanoparticles-scaffold systems which can act simultaneously as potential delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds.

Sciatic nerve regeneration by transplantation of Schwann cells via erythropoietin controlled‐releasing polylactic acid/multiwalled carbon nanotubes/gelatin nanofibrils neural guidance conduit

“…The porosity measurement [Figure (C)] by ethanol displacement method revealed that the average results were 93.53 ± 1.27% and 90.00 ± 1.50% for the PLA and PLA/MWCNTs/GNFs conduits respectively. Coating the conduits with chitosan nanoparticles significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased the porosity percentages to 84.57 ± 1.37% and 85.78 ± 0.70% for PLA/MWCNTs/GNFs/CNPs and PLA/MWCNTs/GNFs/rhEpo‐CNPs conduits respectively as a result of the microstructural deformation occurred after soaking the conduits into the nanoparticle‐containing media and the pressure used to entrap the nanoparticles …”

Alginate-Based Hydrogel Containing Taurine-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application

“…These properties allow chitosan to bound and retain bioactive molecules on its structure (10,11). Chitosan nanoparticle is produced by exploiting different techniques via ultrasonication or ionic gelation (6,12). Ultrasonication arises from acoustic cavitation phenomenon, which generates strong shear forces through the generation of rapid solvent molecule streaming, which leads to cavitation of bubbles and raises shock waves during bubble collapse (12).…”

“…Chitosan nanoparticle is produced by exploiting different techniques via ultrasonication or ionic gelation (6,12). Ultrasonication arises from acoustic cavitation phenomenon, which generates strong shear forces through the generation of rapid solvent molecule streaming, which leads to cavitation of bubbles and raises shock waves during bubble collapse (12). The shear forces cut 1, 4-glycosidic bonds of chitosan that is aggregated; consequently, the size of particles is reduced in nano-dimension scale (12)(13)(14).…”

“…Ultrasonication arises from acoustic cavitation phenomenon, which generates strong shear forces through the generation of rapid solvent molecule streaming, which leads to cavitation of bubbles and raises shock waves during bubble collapse (12). The shear forces cut 1, 4-glycosidic bonds of chitosan that is aggregated; consequently, the size of particles is reduced in nano-dimension scale (12)(13)(14). On the other hand, taurine, a non-protein amino acid containing sulfur, is found in biological fluids and tissues and is the end product of cysteine metabolism in the body (12)(13)(14).…”

“…The shear forces cut 1, 4-glycosidic bonds of chitosan that is aggregated; consequently, the size of particles is reduced in nano-dimension scale (12)(13)(14). On the other hand, taurine, a non-protein amino acid containing sulfur, is found in biological fluids and tissues and is the end product of cysteine metabolism in the body (12)(13)(14). Taurine has been implicated various beneficial physiological functions and biomedical actions, including anti-oxidation, neuromodulation, membrane stabilization, as well as the regulation of calcium homeostasis and metabolism of lipids.…”