Synthesis of ionic gel that is biocompatible to be used for cell culture study.

• Main Author: Tsai, Fung Yee.
• Other Authors: Chan Bee Eng, Mary
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Biotechnology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16495
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study was carried out to synthesize chitosan (CS or C) ionic gel that is mechanically stable and biocompatible with the culture of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Ionically crosslinked gels are often found to be biocompatible, well tolerated and high swelling sensitivity to pH changes compared to covalently crosslinked CS gels. In 1st stage of study, cationic CS derivative, N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium)propyl] chitosan chloride (HTCC) grafted with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide was used for ionic crosslinking with anionic CS derivative, O-carboxymethylchitosan (OCMCS). However, excessive positive charge on the HTCC was believed to cause toxicity to SMCs viability on the ionic gel. HTCC was later substituted with C/β-glycerophosphate (GP or G), which undergoes sol-gel transition at body temperature, 37°C. The gelation time and mechanical strength of the ionic gel synthesized from C/G/Methacrylated OCMCS (OCMCS-MA or O) was determined before the gel was subjected to cell culture study to study the biocompatibility. OCMCS-MA was used in 2nd stage of study as photocrosslinkable groups on OCMCS-MA are required to study the effect of ultra-violet (UV) on the mechanical strength and biocompatibility of the ionic gels besides having two other groups of ionic gels (C/G and C/G/O). C/G/O was found to have 2x higher cell viability than HTCC/OCMCS during cell cytotoxicity test. Besides, it was found that 1 hr incubation prior to UV produced stronger gel compared to the gel having 15 mins incubation. The same C/G/O/UV ionic gel (with 1 hr incubation prior to UV) was found to sustain higher cell viability than C/G and C/G/O on 5th and 7th day of cell seeding.