Crosslinking liposomes/cells using cholesteryl group-modified tilapia gelatin

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Biochemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Developing novel biomaterials for cell and liposome assembly is crucial for advanced biomedical applications.
• Gelatin derivatives offer versatile platforms, but require modifications for enhanced functionality and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize cholesteryl group-modified tilapia gelatins (Chol-T-Gltns).
• To evaluate the assembly properties of Chol-T-Gltns with liposomes and HepG2 cells.
• To assess the enzymatic degradation and biocompatibility of the resulting constructs.

Main Methods:

• Cholesteryl groups were incorporated into tilapia gelatin at varying molar percentages.
• Liposomes were formed and physically crosslinked using Chol-T-Gltns.
• Enzymatic degradation studies were performed using collagenase.
• HepG2 cell assembly, proliferation, and cytotoxicity were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Chol-T-Gltns were successfully prepared with Chol contents ranging from 3 to 69 mol %.
• Liposome gels exhibited tunable enzymatic degradation rates, with higher Chol content leading to slower degradation.
• HepG2 cells demonstrated good assembly, proliferation, and no cytotoxicity with 69Chol-T-Gltn.
• The number of HepG2 cells increased with the concentration of 69Chol-T-Gltn.

Conclusions:

• Chol-T-Gltn, particularly with high Chol content (69Chol-T-Gltn), serves as an effective assembling material for liposomes and cells.
• These Chol-T-Gltn-based constructs show promise for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
• The tunable degradation and biocompatibility make Chol-T-Gltn a versatile biomaterial for biomedical applications.