Enhanced dual network hydrogels consisting of thiolated chitosan and silk fibroin for cartilage tissue engineering. (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jiaoyan; Yang, Bin; Li, Minhui; Li, Jing; Wan, Ying
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 227(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: Thiolated chitosan -- Silk fibroin -- Hydrogel -- Dual network structure -- Cartilage tissue engineering; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115335
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Dual network hydrogels are built using thiolated chitosan and silk fibroin. These gels are injectable and able to form into gels at physiological pH and temperature. The gels are highly porous with high swelling index. Some gels have been significantly enhanced in their strength, stiffness and elasticity. The optimal gels support the growth of seeded chondrocytes while effectively maintaining their phenotype. Abstract: Thiolated chitosan (CS-NAC) was synthesized and the selected CS-NAC was used together with silk fibroin (SF) to produce dual network CS-NAC/SF hydrogels. The CS-NAC/SF solutions with formulated compositions were able to form hydrogels at physiological temperature and pH. Rheological measurements showed that elastic modulus of some CS-NAC/SF gels could reach around 3 kPa or higher and was much higher than their respective viscous modulus, indicating that they behaved like strong gels. Deformation measurements verified that CS-NAC/SF gels had well-defined elasticity. The optimized CS-NAC/SF gels exhibited jointly enhanced properties in terms of strength, stiffness and elasticity when compared to the gels resulted from either CS-NAC or SF. Examinations of dry CS-NAC/SF gels revealed that they were highly porous with well-interconnected pore features. Cell culture demonstrated that CS-NAC/SF gels supported the growth of chondrocytes while effectively maintaining their phenotype. Results suggest that these dual network gels have promising potential in cartilage repair.