Metal cation cross-linked nanocellulose hydrogels as tissue engineering substrates

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Cellulose Nanotechnology

Background:

• Cellulose materials are cost-effective, biocompatible, and biodegradable for biomedical uses.
• Nanofibrillated cellulose (nanocellulose) offers improved mechanical properties and mimics the extracellular matrix structure.
• Nanocellulose hydrogels can be fabricated into promising tissue engineering substrates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate nanocellulose hydrogels as tissue culture substrates.
• To investigate the effect of metal salt cross-linking (Ca(2+), Fe(3+)) on hydrogel properties.
• To assess the impact of fibronectin protein modification on cell adhesion.

Main Methods:

• Carboxylated cellulose nanofibrils were hydrogelated using metal salts (Ca(2+), Fe(3+)).
• Fibronectin protein was physically adsorbed and covalently attached to the hydrogel surfaces.
• Cell adhesion was quantified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Main Results:

• Nanocellulose hydrogels cross-linked with Ca(2+) and Fe(3+) were successfully fabricated.
• Surfaces modified with fibronectin protein showed significantly increased fibroblast cell attachment.
• Calcium-crosslinked hydrogels with covalently attached fibronectin exhibited the highest cell adhesion.

Conclusions:

• Nanocellulose hydrogels are suitable substrates for tissue engineering applications.
• Protein functionalization, particularly covalent attachment of fibronectin, greatly enhances cell adhesion.
• Calcium-crosslinked nanocellulose hydrogels with covalently attached fibronectin represent a promising material for cell culture and tissue regeneration.