Embedding of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers within PHEMA Hydrogel Matrices: Tunable Stiffness Composites with Potential for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels are both considered as biocompatible materials with potential use in various biomedical applications including cartilage, cardiovascular stent, and soft tissue engineering. In this work, the "ever-wet" process based on in situ UV radical polymerization of HEMA monomer in BC nanofibrous structure impregnated with HEMA was used, and a series of BC-PHEMA composites was prepared. The composite structures were characterized by ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, WAXD, SEM, and TEM techniques. The strategy of using densified BC material of various cellulose fiber contents was applied to improve mechanical properties. The mechanical properties were tested under tensile, dynamic shear, and relaxation modes. The final composites contained 1 to 20 wt% of BC; the effect of the reinforcement degree on morphology, swelling capacity, and mechanical properties was investigated. The biocompatibility test of BC-PHEMA composites was performed using mouse mesenchymal stem cells.

Opportunities of Bacterial Cellulose to Treat Epithelial Tissues

“…The combination of BC with poly(2hydroxyethyl methacrylate) depicted a significant improvement in the mechanical properties (e.g. tensile strength) and the rat mesenchymal stem cells proliferation which qualifies this modification for tissue replacement and wound healing applications [93].…”

New Developments in Medical Applications of Hybrid Hydrogels Containing Natural Polymers

“…Drug delivery [168] poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) Gamma irradiation Wound healing [169] PVP and PEG 60 Co gamma irradiation Wound healing [169] poly(oxyalkylene amine) Figure 2. Therefore, the obtained hydrogels can be seen as promising for application in the tissue engineering area, particularly in tissue replacement and wound healing [131]. Figure 2.…”

“…Figure 2. Therefore, the obtained hydrogels can be seen as promising for application in the tissue engineering area, particularly in tissue replacement and wound healing [131]. PAAm/cellulose nanofibers (CNF) DN gels were synthesized by simply using an alkali treatment (15 wt % NaOH) at room temperature.…”

“…Number of viable rMSCs afer 72 h of growth onto BC-PHEMA hydrogels determined by cell viability AlamarBlue Assay (Reprinted from[131], open access Hindawi).…”

Preparation of ultrahigh‐water‐content nanofiber composite hydrogel for Cd2+ removal

“…However, the traditional hydrogel has been considered a mechanically weak material, and thus little attention has been focused on it as a possible structural material 9 . To overcome the drawback, the current study concentrates on the high‐strength hydrogel such as double‐network hydrogel, 10 topological hydrogel, 11 polyampholyte hydrogel, 12 and nanofiber composite (NC) hydrogel 13 . Among them, NC hydrogel has a stable 3D network structure and good mechanical properties, which greatly change the limitations of traditional adsorbent materials 14 and may open up new and unseen possibilities for wastewater treatment 15 …”