The biocompatibility of hydrogels from nanocrystalline cellulose with gelatin, PAM, or hyaluronic acid
Anna G. Erokhina 1,2, Anna A. Kopylova 1, Ksenia O. Salina 1, Anastasia A. Belyaeva1;
1. Centre for Soft Matter and Physics of Fluids, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 2nd Baumanskaya street 5, 105005 Moscow, Russia
2 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Trubetskaya Street, Building 8, Structure 2, 119048, Moscow, Russia
Abstract
Chronic wounds require materials that combine biocompatibility with regenerative activity. Nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) with aldehyde groups is promising due to its reparative potential, but its cytotoxicity limits application. The aim was to evaluate the biocompatibility of composite hydrogels based on CNC with gelatin, hyaluronic acid (HA), and PAM to select the optimal formulation.
Six formulations were synthesised: (1) CNC+gelatin, (2) CNC+PAM, (3) CNC+PAM+gelatin, (4) CNC+gelatin+HA, (5) CNC+PAM+HA, (6) CNC+PAM+gelatin+HA. Cytotoxicity was assessed at 1 day using the Live/Dead assay, and proliferation at 3 days by Ki-67 immunocytochemistry. Significance was determined by ANOVA (p<0.05).
Live/Dead staining showed a statistically significant decrease in viability in groups 1 and 3 relative to the control. In groups 2, 4, 5, and 6, viability exceeded 75%, indicating effective neutralisation of toxicity by PAM and HA. Proliferation (Ki-67) revealed no significant differences between groups; however, a consistent trend towards lower proliferation was observed in PAM-containing formulations (groups 2, 3, 5). This may be attributed to the reduced stiffness of the matrix formed by PAM crosslinks, as well as the inertness of PAM in cell signalling, in contrast to bioactive gelatin (RGD motifs) and HA (CD44 interaction).
The most promising hydrogels for chronic wounds are those containing gelatin and HA (group 4), as well as their combination with PAM (group 6). Both formulations ensure high cell viability through aldehyde detoxification.
The research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 26-79-10340)
Speaker
Anna G. Erokhina
Centre for Soft Matter and Physics of Fluids, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 2nd Baumanskaya street 5, 105005 Moscow, Russia; I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Trubetskaya Street, Building 8, Structure 2, 119048, Moscow, Russia
Russia
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