Dual-functional alginate crosslinker: Independent control of crosslinking density and cell adhesive properties of hydrogels via separate conjugation pathways. (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choi, Cholong; Kim, Suntae; Cha, Chaenyung
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 252(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: Tetrabutylammonium alginate -- Cell adhesion molecule -- Methacrylate -- Hydrogel -- Mechanics; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Multifunctional alginate is created via two different reaction pathways. Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) is linked to carboxylic groups via amide coupling. Methacrylate is conjugated to hydroxyl groups via nucleophilic addition. CAM-methacrylic alginate is used as a crosslinker to develop hydrogels. Mechanical and cell adhesive properties of hydrogels are controlled independently. Abstract: Alginate is an abundant natural polysaccharide widely utilized in various biomedical applications. Alginate also possesses numerous hydroxyl and carboxylate functional groups that allow chemical modifications to introduce different functionalities. However, it is difficult to apply various chemical reactions to alginate due to limited solubility in organic solvents. Herein, functional moieties for radical polymerization and cell adhesion were separately conjugated to hydroxyl and carboxylate groups of alginate, respectively, in order to independently control the crosslinking density and cell adhesive properties of hydrogels. Sodium counterions of alginate are first substituted with tetrabutylammonium ions to facilitate the dissolution in an organic solvent, followed by in situ conjugations of (1) cell adhesion molecules (CAM) via carbodiimide-mediated amide formation and (2) methacrylate via ring-opening nucleophilic reaction. The resulting CAM-linked methacrylic alginate was able to not only crosslink different monomers to form hydrogels with varying mechanical properties, but also induce stable cell adhesion to the hydrogels.