ABSTRACT
A series of hydrogels based on chitosan polyamine and nitrosalicylaldehyde were prepared via dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC), by imination and transimination reactions towards ordered clusters which play the role of crosslinking nodes of the chitosan network. The hydrogelation mechanism has been proved through NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and polarized light microscopy. The successful preparation of the hydrogels and their mechanical properties were further investigated using rheological measurements. By electron scanning microscopy, the hydrogels exhibited a channels microstructure morphology which critically influenced their fast swelling by capillarity. The hydrogels cytotoxicity was explored in vitro on HeLa cancer cells and their biocompatibility was monitored in vivo by subcutaneous implantation on rats. The novel hydrogels proved good in vitro cytotoxicity on the HeLa cells and also in vivo biocompatibility in rats. Thus, these novel biomaterials promise to be suitable for local cancer therapy.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Biocompatible Materials/pharmacology , Chitosan/chemistry , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/therapy , Hydrogels/pharmacology , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Benzaldehydes/chemistry , Biocompatible Materials/chemical synthesis , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Capillary Action , Cell Survival/drug effects , Disease Models, Animal , Elasticity , HeLa Cells , Humans , Hydrogels/chemical synthesis , Hydrogels/chemistry , Polyamines/chemistry , Rats , Shear Strength , ViscosityABSTRACT
Functional G-quartet hydrogels formed from natural guanosine cross linked with benzene-1,4-diboronic acid and Mg2+ support cell growth with no visible signs of gel degradation.
ABSTRACT
The polyplexes formed by nucleic acids and polycations have received a great attention owing to their potential application in gene therapy. In our study, we report experimental results and modeling outcomes regarding the optimization of polyplex formation between the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and poly(Ê-Lysine) (PLL). The quantification of the binding efficiency during polyplex formation was performed by processing of the images captured from the gel electrophoresis assays. The design of experiments (DoE) and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to investigate the coupling effect of key factors (pH and N/P ratio) affecting the binding efficiency. According to the experimental observations and response surface analysis, the N/P ratio showed a major influence on binding efficiency compared to pH. Model-based optimization calculations along with the experimental confirmation runs unveiled the maximal binding efficiency (99.4%) achieved at pH 5.4 and N/P ratio 125. To support the experimental data and reveal insights of molecular mechanism responsible for the polyplex formation between dsDNA and PLL, molecular dynamics simulations were performed at pH 5.4 and 7.4.
