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Injectable Amorphous Chitin-Agarose Composite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Publication Type : Journal Article

Thematic Areas : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine

Publisher : Journal of Functional Biomaterials

Source : Journal of Functional Biomaterials, Volume 6, Number 3, p.849–862 (2015)

Url : http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/6/3/849

Campus : Kochi

School : Center for Nanosciences

Center : Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Move, Nanosciences

Department : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine

Year : 2015

Abstract : Injectable hydrogels are gaining popularity as tissue engineering constructs because of their ease of handling and minimal invasive delivery. Making hydrogels from natural polymers helps to overcome biocompatibility issues. Here, we have developed an Amorphous Chitin (ACh)-Agarose (Agr) composite hydrogel using a simpletechnique. Rheological studies, such as viscoelastic behavior (elastic modulus, viscous modulus, yield stress, and consistency), inversion test, and injectability test, were carried out for different ACh-Agr concentrations. The composite gel, having a concentration of 1.5% ACh and 0.25% Agr, showed good elastic modulus (17.3 kPa), yield stress (3.8 kPa), no flow under gravity, injectability, and temperature stability within the physiological range. Based on these studies, the optimum concentration for injectability was found to be 1.5% ACh and 0.25% Agr. This optimized concentration was used for further studies and characterized using FT-IR and SEM. FT-IR studies confirmed the presence of ACh and Agr in the composite gel. SEM results showed that the lyophilized composite gel had good porosity and mesh like networks. The cytocompatibility of the composite gel was studied using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The composite gels showed good cell viability.These results indicated that this injectable composite gel can be used for biomedical applications.

Cite this Research Publication : M. Vishnu Priya, Kumar, R. Arun, Sivashanmugam, A., Nair, S. Vasudevan, and Dr. Jayakumar Rangasamy, “Injectable Amorphous Chitin-Agarose Composite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications”, Journal of Functional Biomaterials, vol. 6, pp. 849–862, 2015.

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