Hydrogels are polymeric systems that have been extensively investigated and applied in biomedical contexts. Its properties generally include biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties well-suited for applications in regenerative medicine and controlled delivery systems of drugs and bioactive components. Current research on hydrogels involves incorporating plant metabolites to enhance their healing properties. The bark of the Mimosa tenuiflora plant has been used empirically to treat skin injuries and burns. Emerging research has identified that this plant possesses molecules that can help wound healing. However, the use of the extract of this plant in biomaterials for skin regeneration is very little studied. In this study, the properties of hydrogels prepared from chitosan and Mimosa tenuiflora extract were investigated. Several bioactive molecules in the Mimosa tenuiflora extract were identified, including tannins and araginogalactans. The physicochemical properties of the samples were evaluated, as well as their porosity, degradation kinetics, water retention, percentage of gelation, water vapor transmission rate, and swelling ratio. The results showed porosity in the range of 62%–76%, a swelling ratio of 90%–97% and a degradation appropriate for use in the repair of skin wounds. It was observed that the extract helps to increase the antibacterial property of hydrogel, against Gram – and Gram + bacteria. Furthermore, the incorporation of the chitosan hydrogel matrix extract increases cell migration in an in vitro healing study. Therefore, it can be inferred that the extract of Mimosa tenuiflora enhances the antibacterial activity, cell migration in vitro , and physicochemical properties, such as water retention, porosity, and degradation in vitro, of the hydrogels compared to the control hydrogel. These findings suggest these hydrogels as promising candidates for wound healing dressings.
This study developed and characterised poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)–chitosan composite hydrogels crosslinked with oxalic acid through thermal crosslinking as antifungal wound dressings loaded with amphotericin B (AMB). Hydrogel films were prepared from aqueous stock solutions with varying chitosan content and subjected to dry thermal treatment to induce crosslinking with oxalic acid. Increasing chitosan content significantly elevated the viscosity of the polymeric mixtures and influenced the swelling percentage and equilibrium water content. Conversely, the gel fraction remained largely unchanged, indicating enhanced water uptake without compromising structural integrity. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed successful network formation and chitosan incorporation. Leachable studies identified PVA and PVP as the primary leachate components. While AMB partitioning showed no statistical differences across formulations, the hydrogels maintained a mildly acidic surface pH. Notably, the AMB-loaded PPChi 20 hydrogel exhibited a significantly larger zone of inhibition against C. albicans compared to AMB-free controls. As blank formulations showed no antifungal activity, the efficacy was primarily dependent on the hydrogel’s AMB loading capacity. These findings suggest that PVA–PVP–chitosan hydrogels crosslinked with oxalic acid are promising candidates for topical AMB delivery in managing fungal-infected wounds.
Chitosan is a marine-based polysaccharide deacetylated chitin that is characterized by versatility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and controllable physicochemical characteristics. Sulfation, phosphorylation, carboxymethylation, quaternization, and guanidinylation are structural changes that increase the solubility, bioadhesion, antimicrobial activity, and biological performance of physiological conditions. Depolymerized derivatives, such as chitosan oligomers, have enhanced permeability, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties and physically engineered forms, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and electrospun fibers provide superior platforms to targeted drug delivery, tissue scaffolds, and controlled drug delivery. Together, these multifunctional derivatives have demonstrated potential in a variety of biomedical applications such as wound healing, antimicrobial therapy, gene delivery and regenerative medicine and in food preservation, agriculture and environmental remediation. The recent advances of selective O-/N-substitution and green chemistry-based synthesis have enhanced reproducibility, scalability and regulatory compliance, but it is still difficult to achieve standardized production, high quality, and whole biocompatibility inspection. This review presents a systematic synthesis of the synthesis pathways, structural-functional interaction, and the general application scope of the chitosan derivatives, whereas the essential translational issues and emerging opportunities are outlined. It combines the approach of chemistry, biology, and engineering to emphasize the future potential of chitosan derivatives as the next generation biomaterials in clinical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental practices.
Injuries of the peripheral nervous system lead to impairments in motor and sensory functions, compromising the patients’ quality of life. Autologous nerve grafting is a surgical solution, but it is not well accepted because of limited tissue availability and harvest surgery complications. In the recent years, the repair of large nerve defects is addressed through tissue engineering strategies. Bioengineered nerve guidance scaffolds/conduits prepared from polymers provide platform for the defective nerve stumps to grow and attach to restore the lost functions. This area has advanced significantly now, with some products demonstrating the bridging of large nerve gaps in pre-clinical trials. Successful translation of such nerve regenerating products toward clinical applications is awaited. This review primarily highlights the role of polymeric materials and tissue engineering in the repair of peripheral nerve injuries. Scaffold design strategies for nerve regeneration have been extensively covered in the literature. The focus is on the evaluation of the functional performance of various nerve guidance scaffolds/conduits, demonstrated through in vitro tests and preclinical animal studies. The initial sections of this review provide an overview of the structure and functions of peripheral nerves. Subsequent sections include a detailed survey of tissue engineering strategies for nerve regeneration, covering the role of the polymeric materials also. Scaffold evaluation further strengthens this foundation, with in vitro studies ensuring safety and in vivo models confirming efficacy. Animal trials, carefully designed to reflect real clinical conditions, will offer crucial insights into scaffold performance, enabling confident progression toward human applications. In the final part, the current clinical landscape and future perspectives are outlined. The success achieved at present in the in vitro validation of tissue-engineered nerve guidance scaffolds necessitates comprehensive pre-clinical and human evaluations to generate the evidence required for their translation into clinically usable products.
This study aimed to synthesize edible coating membranes composed of carboxymethyl chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/curcumin nanoparticles (CMCS/PVA/Cur-NPs) using gamma-irradiation, to extend the shelf life of sweet orange (Valencia) fruits stored at room temperature up to 70 days. CMCS/PVA/Cur-NPs membranes were fabricated via the casting method by blending the CMCS/PVA copolymer solution with 2.5% Cur-NPs. The mixture was subjected to thermal curing in an oven at 40 degrees C until completely dried, after which the membranes were exposed to gamma-irradiation at doses ranging from 5 to 25 kGy for subsequent characterization and evaluation in packaging applications. The chemical properties of CMCS/PVA/Cur-NPs membranes were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the influence of gamma-irradiation dose on gel content, water swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and antimicrobial activity was systematically investigated. Medium-sized Valencia oranges were packaged using CMCS/PVA/Cur-NPs membranes, sealed with Teflon tape, and stored under controlled conditions at room temperature (22 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C) with relative humidity maintained at 65%-70% +/- 5%. At the end of the storage period, coating efficiency was evaluated based on several quality parameters, including decay percentage, weight loss, pH, vitamin C content, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and the TSS/TA ratio. The results indicated that fruits coated with CMCS/PVA/Cur-NPs membranes retained superior external appearance and internal quality attributes compared to the uncoated control fruits. These findings demonstrate that CMCS/PVA/Cur-NPs membranes are effective and safe materials, highlighting their potential for application in food packaging to extend shelf life and preserve fruit quality.
Natural polymers are widely utilized in various industries due to their eco-friendly and renewable nature. Naturally occurring polysaccharides, commonly termed gums for their ability to form gels or viscous solutions, are abundant in various plants and trees. Their key advantages include easy availability, low cost, structural diversity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Additionally, they can be chemically modified for specific applications. Hydrogels derived from these gums exhibit excellent water and exudate absorption capacities, making them ideal biomaterials in regenerative medicine as they can effectively mimic living tissues for use in diverse tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Tragacanth Gum (TG), a natural polysaccharide, has emerged as a versatile and biocompatible material for various biomedical applications. Hydrogels composed of TG and other biomacromolecules have shown excellent wound fluid absorption, sustained drug release, blood compatibility, and impermeability to microorganisms, making them effective wound dressings. TG composite hydrogels have also been explored for encapsulation and delivery of various plant extracts, further highlighting their multifunctionality in biomedicine and pharmaceutical industry. The aim of this review is to focus on various methods to develop TG composites hydrogels, their properties, and biomedical applications. The synergy between their fabrication strategies and composite chemistries offers new avenues for advancing TG-based therapeutic products. Overall, TG’s unique physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and compatibility position it as a promising biomaterial in tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery systems.
Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a crucial technique in oral health for addressing alveolar bone deficiencies caused by periodontal disease, trauma, or infection. This review examines the latest advancements in GBR barrier membranes, focusing on their material properties, biological performance, and in vivo applications. Traditional non-resorbable membranes, such as dense and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and titanium meshes, offer superior space-maintaining abilities but require secondary surgeries for removal and can form biofilms. In contrast, resorbable membranes, including natural polymers such as collagen, and synthetic polymers like polylactic acid, provide biocompatibility but lack mechanical strength. Recent innovations have led to the development of biocomposite membranes that integrate multiple materials to enhance mechanical properties, antimicrobial capabilities, and osteoinductive functions. These advancements aim to overcome the limitations of traditional membranes by synchronizing degradation with bone regeneration kinetics and providing a more dynamic and supportive microenvironment for bone tissue repair. Finally, this review suggests that future studies should develop tailored degradation kinetics, enhanced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory capabilities, and smart-responsive mechanisms of GBR membranes to better meet the spatiotemporal requirements of bone regeneration. This review consolidates current advancements and explores novel avenues within the field, delivering a state-of-the-art perspective tailored for both established and emerging researchers in biomaterials science.
Chronic wounds are a significant concern to the health of society, with associated additional costs. Wound healing in normal patients is characterized by distinct stages, including inflammation, proliferation of dermal keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Bacterial biofilm and chronic inflammation in the wound slow the wound healing and cause prolonged exudate formation. Very few alginates are beneficial in wound healing, as alginate dressings applied to wounds can reduce bacterial infection of the wound bed, maintain the wound environment physiologically moist, and absorb abnormal fluid from the wound. The efficiency of wound dressings, such as the polymers utilized in the alginate blend, crosslinking agents utilized, crosslinking duration, and excipients utilized, are among the factors. This article introduces the uses of alginates in contemporary wound-dressing, with hydrogels, nanofiber networks, 3D scaffolds, or sponges, which are all topically applicable for healing wounds.
Flexible and environmentally sustainable humidity sensor are increasingly required for wearable and biomedical monitoring. In this work, we present a fully biodegradable humidity sensor based on traditional Korean Hanji cellulose paper, which serves simultaneously as both the substrate and the active sensing layer. The device is fabricated through a simple two-step process by attaching silver-coated aluminum foil electrodes onto Hanji paper, eliminating the need for cleanroom processes or complex synthetic sensing materials. Owing to the intrinsic porosity and the hydrophilicity of the Hanji fibers the sensor exhibits a strong humidity response of 8.52 & times; 10(5) (I-91.8%/I-7.6%) across a wide relative humidity range of 7.6%-91.8% while operating at an ultralow bias voltage of 0.3 V with excellent linearity (R-2 = 0.9912). The device also demonstrates mechanical flexibility and stable performance under bending cycles. Furthermore, the sensor enables practical demonstrations such as non-contact fingertip humidity detection and breath intensity monitoring, highlighting its potential for wearable biomedical sensing. These results demonstrate that Hanji paper provides a promising platform for low-cost, eco-friendly, and disposable humidity sensing technologies.
This study reports novel biomimetic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels modified with poly (2-acrylamido-2-ethylpropanesulfonic acid; PAMPS), mica and multi-walled carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTCOOH) and evaluates how filler identity and microstructure control functional properties for cartilage like applications. Spectroscopy and elemental mapping confirmed the presence and chemical integrity of all additives. Electron microscopy showed an interconnected porous network whose pore size increases with PAMPS, decreases with mica, and enlarges with CNTCOOH. Combining mica with CNTCOOH produced a denser network that strengthened the material but reduced fluid uptake. Measured water content (WC) ranged from 88.0% to 93.2%. The CNTCOOH rich composition swelled fastest and reached an equilibrium swelling ratio (SR) near 1692%, while the dual filler composition displayed limited swelling. Mechanical testing showed that the dual filler composition achieved the highest tensile strength (TS) of 0.55 MPa and the greatest elongation at break of 165% and also exhibited the highest compressive stiffness under large strain. In contrast, porous CNT rich samples absorbed fluid rapidly but had lower TS. Friction testing under joint like conditions identified hydration lubrication as the main low friction mechanism and the using both filler enriched samples produced the low coefficient of friction (COF) near 0.066. Wear tests after extended cycling revealed low average wear depths for the dual filler hydrogel and only minor surface flattening without cracking or delamination. Together these results demonstrate that deliberate choice and combination of fillers allow predictable tuning of swelling behavior, lubrication and mechanical resilience to meet different biomedical needs.
Skin bioprinting has gained significant attention as a transformative method for treating skin injuries due to its ability to construct complex tissue-engineered structures. This study investigates the effect of varying weight ratios of Oxidized Alginate (OAlg), Gelatin (Gel), and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) on bioink formulations using extrusion-based bioprinting. Alginate was oxidized with sodium metaperiodate, achieving 10% oxidation. Hydrogels were formulated with OAlg at concentrations of 10%, 15%, and 20% (w/v), while Gel and CMC were held constant at 5% (w/v) and 15% (w/v), respectively. Chemical structure analysis supported the formation of crosslinked interactions within the hydrogels. The optimal formulation, containing 20% (w/v) OAlg, gelled in approximately 30 s and demonstrated good structural stability during printing. Rheological assessments revealed shear-thinning behavior and appropriate viscosity for bioprinting across all formulations. After 28 days, the 20% (w/v) OAlg hydrogel exhibited a 49% degradation rate. Unlike conventional OAlg-Gel systems, the incorporation of CMC provided enhanced viscosity control, improved filament fidelity during extrusion, and improved structural stability during printing without the need for additional ionic crosslinkers. Three-dimensional printing tests demonstrated that this formulation provided superior printing uniformity, and cell viability assays revealed a 93% survival rate for skin fibroblast cells, indicating its potential for further investigation in skin tissue engineering applications.
This study incorporated Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and polydopamine (PDA) into a Semi-resorbable membrane (SRM) to control the release profile of VEGF, thereby enhancing timely and sufficient vascularization in guided bone regeneration. Dopamine (DA) was optimized and selected using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Water Contact Angle (WCA), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). After PDA coating, VEGF-immobilized SRMs were prepared at different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 & micro;g). Then, the released profile of VEGF 1 & micro;g was evaluated with the Bradford Assay at specific time points up to 1 week. The degradation rate (%) was assessed hydrolytically and enzymatically up to 180 days. Cell Proliferation of fibroblasts and Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was examined with PrestoBlue Assay, at 1-, 3-, 7-, and 10-day intervals. From SEM, WCA, and FTIR, polydopamine 1 mg/ml for 1 h. was selected for coating and VEGF immobilization. The released profile of VEGF showed a sharp increase up to 6 h., then stable and slightly decreased on Day 2, and slowly released and stable until Day 7. The VEGF-immobilized SRM was slowly degraded by SBF (18.04% +/- 2.13%) and lysozyme (24.44% +/- 2.93%) in 180 days. In the cell proliferation assay, all experimental groups showed increased proliferation of fibroblasts and HUVECs at all concentrations. The maximum amount of VEGF (0.5 mu g/ml) gained the best result, but no statistical significance between 0.5 and 0.3 mu g/ml on Day 10. VEGF-immobilized SRMs exhibited biocompatibility with fibroblasts and HUVECs. They effectively released VEGF during the first week, corresponding to the early phase of bone healing, demonstrating potential as bioactive membranes for angiogenesis.
This research created antibacterial hybrid papers that are composed of iota carrageenan (Iota), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), as well as collagen (Coll), with the addition of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and cinnamon (Cinn) extract as the means of antimicrobial substance. The fabricated composite films were giving the Iota/CMC/Coll/Cinn/CNFsa-d abbreviations. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used for characterizing these films. The crystallinity of films was increased by CNFs, according to XRD analysis. SEM and TEM images showed that CNFs were uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix. Carbon, oxygen, and some trace elements from cinnamon extract were verified to exist in composite films through EDX examination. TGA measures demonstrated that the thermal stability of films was improved by CNFs addition. XRD results indicated that there were no significant differences between each sample's diffraction peaks, while it illustrates an increase in intensity only when compared with those without any treatment at all against E. Coli using the disk diffusion method. The control film had the smallest inhibition zone among them, but larger ones could be observed from other samples where both CNFs and cinnamon extracts have been added into this material, especially if a larger amount is put into it. Thus, we can say that there is a synergistic effect between these two components, which could be used not only for food packaging but also for medical purposes requiring antibacterial activity.
Tissue engineering has emerged as a transformative approach for addressing complex clinical challenges in regenerative medicine, particularly for vascularized tissue repair, where scaffold design plays a pivotal role in guiding cellular behavior. This study evaluates three polycaprolactone (PCL)-based scaffolds containing a layer of a PCL homopolymer or a PEG-b-PCL copolymer, fabricated via 3D printing and electrospraying, to assess their interactions with endothelial cells as an important cell type in tissue repair. Over a 5-day culture period, in vitro analyses were conducted, including MTT assays to quantify metabolic activity, crystal violet staining to visualize cell adhesion patterns, and immunofluorescence to validate endothelial phenotype. Results demonstrated excellent biocompatibility across all scaffolds, with no observed cytotoxicity. The PCL scaffold coated with PEG-b-PCL microparticles exhibited enhanced cell-supporting properties, as evidenced by the most intense formazan staining and the highest absorbance values, indicating superior cell viability compared to both PCL homopolymer coated and uncoated PCL3D scaffolds. These results highlight the role of surface topography and chemistry in optimizing cell-scaffold interactions, advancing their potential for vascularized tissue engineering.
The development of multifunctional wound dressings that combine effective exudate management with robust antimicrobial activity remains a pressing need in modern wound care. Here, we report bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes infused with mangosteen extract (MG) as bioactive wound dressings. The MG/BC membranes exhibited excellent physicochemical properties, including high swelling capacity, moisture retention, and water vapor transmission suitable for wound healing environments. Controlled release studies revealed a biphasic MG release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (R-2 approximate to 0.98), enabling rapid initial antimicrobial action followed by sustained delivery over 24 h. The released concentrations consistently exceeded MIC and MBC thresholds, achieving complete bacterial elimination within 12 h against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including MRSA. Cytotoxicity assays with normal human dermal fibroblasts confirmed excellent biocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 100% at therapeutic doses. Compared with commercial wound dressings, MG/BC demonstrated superior antimicrobial efficacy, particularly against resistant strains. This work highlights the potential of MG/BC as a cost-effective, next-generation wound dressing that unites the structural advantages of BC with the therapeutic power of natural xanthones, offering a promising solution for advanced wound care applications.
Conventional hydrogel wound dressings often suffer from mechanical weakness and an inability to self-repair, reducing lifespan and therapeutic benefits. Moreover, it cannot provide an ideal environment for wound healing due to excessive oxidative stress. To address this, we prepared a self-healing hydrogel film composed of tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP), which possesses antioxidant properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the cross-linking between borax and TSP, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a highly rigid cross-linked network structure. The thickness, transparency, water vapor transmission rate, tensile stress, and DPPH scavenging activity of formulations F1-F7 range from 0.247 to 0.476 mm, 8.07%-11.05% at 600 nm, 535 g m-2 day-1 to 1175 g m-2 day-1, 2.023-10.75 MPa in the wet state and 11.431-38.15 MPa in the dry state, and 26.12%-53.39% in 6 h, respectively. The optimized formulation F6 exhibited desired properties, including thickness (0.472 +/- 0.021 mm), water vapor transmission rate (1175.74 +/- 10.675 g m-2 day-1), tensile stress (10.75 +/- 0.620 MPa wet, 38.15 +/- 0.795 MPa dry), % swelling ratio (506.04 +/- 2.093%), and DPPH scavenging activity (43.64%). From visual inspection, it was observed that the cuts between the segments started to join instantly and were completely attached within 20 min. The optimized formulation showed a healing efficiency of 43.949 +/- 0.566%, based on tensile stress measurements of self-healed films, recorded at 6 h. The developed hydrogel film exhibited an in vitro hemolytic rate of 0.33 +/- 0.16%, which falls within the safe range, demonstrating good hemocompatibility.
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that leads to tissue damage, bone loss, and gingival recession. In this disease, pH levels in the mouth are affected by food and saliva as well as tissue inflammation and damage caused by periodontitis. Monitoring pH levels helps assess disease progression and treatment outcomes; therefore, it is important to study the degradation of the biomaterials under relevant pH conditions. Fibers are valuable in treating periodontal disease by enabling site-specific drug delivery to affected soft and hard tissues. In this work, we evaluate polyanhydride fibers that undergo hydrolysis to yield salicylic acid as a function of pH conditions. The physical properties of the polyanhydrides, specifically those based on ester-containing carboxyphenoxydecanoate (CPD), can be altered by copolymerization with ether-containing para-carboxyphenoxyhexane (pCPH) to affect degradation rates under specific pH conditions. Overall, we observed that the CPD:pCPH copolymer is more resistant to hydrolysis than the CPD homopolymer. We examined the effects of degradation media pH on the hydrolysis of 50:50 CPD:pCPH fibers (fibers containing 50% CPD and 50% pCPH) with pH values ranging from pH 6 to 9. This pH range was chosen as it covers the pH values typically observed in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) as well as in the gastrointestinal tract. As a general trend, increasing the pH of the degradation media increased the rate at which the copolymer fibers were hydrolyzed. This work will help enable targeted drug delivery to specific areas in the body, such as acidic tumors or the gastrointestinal tract, for efficient medication release.
The present study aimed to characterize Cystoseira stricta sodium alginate and its maleated derivative for potential use in food preservation. The alginate was extracted from the brown alga Cystoseira stricta, harvested from west Algerian coast (35 degrees 49 ' N/0 degrees 01 ' W). The sodium alginate was grafted with maleic anhydride to obtain maleated sodium alginate. The native and grafted sodium alginate were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, SEM, DSC, TGA, X-ray, and EDX. Their antioxidant potential was evaluated using DPPH scavenging activity. Additionally, a nanoemulsion based on maleated sodium alginate and date seed oil was synthezised and applied as an edible functional coating for delaying strawberries' spoilage. The extraction of sodium alginate resulted in good yield (37.52%) with a beta-D-mannuronic acid /alpha-L-guluronic acid (M/G) ratio of 0.80. The grafting of sodium alginate with maleic anhydride has been successfully executed and confirmed by infrared analysis and DSC. The degree of substitution was estimated to 93%. The crystallinity becomes greater according to x-ray diffraction data. Thermal analysis indicated that maleated sodium alginate was more thermally stable. The SEM/EDX analyses revealed well defined morphological characteristics and high chemical purity of native and modified sample. The maleated sodium alginate exhibits higher antioxidant activity than native sodium alginate. It was found the maleation cannot improve only the antioxidant ability but also the product esthetic. The prepared nanostructured system demonstrated dispersion stability with a zeta potential of -29.9, as determined by DLS. When applied as an edible coating, it effectively protected and enhanced the shelf-life of fresh strawberries at ambient temperature.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer widely employed in biomaterials for its biocompatibility and protein-repellent properties, is conventionally deemed bioinert. However, its interactions with extracellular components such as carbon dioxide (CO2), may critically influence cellular responses. The effect of PEG on cellular viability has not been properly investigated. This study investigates how PEG (2000 g/mol) at varying molar concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mu mol/mL) alters the viability and morphology of osteoblasts and gingival fibroblasts in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM), and DMEM supplemented with HEPES as a comparative buffering system. Resazurin assays, crystal violet staining, and pH measurements revealed that PEG concentration elevated medium pH, and enhanced cell viability. Notably, osteoblasts in standard DMEM exhibited the highest viability increase, 215%, 196%, and 168%, respectively, while in HEPES-buffered DMEM showed attenuated responses compared to controls (N = 5, p < 0.05). Although alkaline conditions enhanced cellular viability, concurrent morphological alterations, including membrane blebbing and cellular rounding, were observed contingent upon PEG concentration and HEPES presence. These findings underscore the capacity of PEG to modulate extracellular pH, impacting cellular behavior. Such effects challenge the perception of PEG as a passive biomaterial and highlight microenvironmental dynamics as a critical variable in biomaterial design. Thus, optimizing PEG concentration is vital to balancing biocompatibility and cell viability in tissue engineering.
Three-dimensional scaffolds produced by electrospinning from blends of Tecothane (TM) TT-1074A (Tect) with varying concentrations of gelatin (Gl) in hexafluoroisopropanol were investigated for their physicochemical properties, stability at different pH levels, and bio- and hemocompatibility. To enhance hemocompatibility, bivalirudin (Bv) was incorporated into the surface layer of the scaffold fibers. All scaffolds exhibited good strength (up to 22 MPa) with a high yield point (about 400%). Storage for 1 month at different pH levels leads to moderate decrease of stiffness with bell-shape variation of the elongation at break. IR spectra did not reveal discernible hydrolysis of pH-sensitive bonds. These changes also did not correlate with fiber diameters and may be attributed to inter-fiber contacts and rearrangements in the fiber inner structure. Scaffolds containing 10% Gl and 1.5% Bv demonstrated good biocompatibility in terms of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion and proliferation, as well as minimal platelet adhesion, aggregation induction, and hemolysis. In conclusion, these findings indicate the suitability of Tect-based scaffolds for vascular graft production.
