Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes Based Spherical Biocarriers: Preparation, Characterization, and Biocompatibility

Abstract

Spherical biocarriers were prepared with lignin-carbohydrate complexes isolated from ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) xylem. The specific surface and average pore size of the biocarriers were 17.15 m 2 g −1 and 21.59 nm, respectively. The carriers were stable in solution at pH 4.0∼9.5. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum indicated that the spherical carrier was composed of lignin and polysaccharides and had a typical lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) structure. The contents of galactose, lignin, and total sugar were 3.30%, 23.9%, and 64.62%, respectively, making the spherical biocarriers have good physical strength and compatible with hepatocytes. It was observed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that liver cells adhered to the spherical biocarriers during culture. Cell counting indicated that the proliferation of liver cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The albumin secretion (ALB) value and glucose consumption of the human hepatocytes were increased by 51.7% and 38.6%, respectively, by the fourth day when cultivated on the biocarriers. The results indicate that ginkgo LCC is very biocompatible and shows promise for the use as a biomaterial in the culture of human hepatocytes.

Lignin–carbohydrate complexes: properties, applications, analyses, and methods of extraction: a review

“…These properties are attributed to a combination of water-repellent, inelastic lignin units, and hydrophilic, flexible carbohydrates in LCCs [ 91 ]. Zhao et al [ 91 , 172 ] applied LCC fractions from poplar wood for the preparation of spherical biocarriers. Biocarriers are inactive compounds able to attract, keep, and biomagnify certain microorganisms [ 173 ].…”

“…Biocarriers are inactive compounds able to attract, keep, and biomagnify certain microorganisms [ 173 ]. Zhao et al [ 91 , 172 ] estimated the proliferation of liver cells after application of biocarriers prepared from various species of hardwood (Poplar) and softwood ( Ginkgo biloba L.). Galactose units of LCC are able to recognize liver cells due to the presence of asiaglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) on hepatocytes, as galactose functions as ligand and bind hepatic cells with these receptors.…”

“…Galactose units of LCC are able to recognize liver cells due to the presence of asiaglycoprotein receptors (ASGPR) on hepatocytes, as galactose functions as ligand and bind hepatic cells with these receptors. LCC–hepatocyte complexes are proposed to be able to culture hepatocytes due to the interaction of galactose and ASGPR [ 172 ]. The effect of LCC biocarriers on metabolic activity of hepatocytes is evaluated; the results demonstrate the improvement of liver cells proliferation.…”

“…It is reported that the cell number of human hepatocytes cultured in hardwood LCC carriers and control groups (without application of LCC biocarriers) in a definite time period is 1.84–1.68 × 10 5 cells/mL and 1.32 × 10 5 cells/mL, respectively [ 91 ]. The implementation of softwood LCC biocarriers increases the number of cells cultured to 6.5 × 10 4 cells/mL, whereas the control group shows cell numbers of 5.5 × 10 4 cells/mL [ 172 ]. The hepatocytes cultured in the LCC biocarriers show significantly higher values of albumin secretion and blood urea nitrogen released from the hepatocytes, which indicates a better biocompatibility and higher metabolic activity of cells cultured in LCC biocarriers [ 91 ].…”

“…The hepatocytes cultured in the LCC biocarriers show significantly higher values of albumin secretion and blood urea nitrogen released from the hepatocytes, which indicates a better biocompatibility and higher metabolic activity of cells cultured in LCC biocarriers [ 91 ]. The results show that LCC biocarriers are highly biocompatible and can be applied as a precursor of biomaterial for culturing human liver cells [ 91 , 172 ].…”