Polysaccharide-Protein Multilayers Based on Chitosan-Fibrinogen Assemblies for Cardiac Cell Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions are crucial for cell functions, regulated by surface properties of culture substrates.
• Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly offers a versatile method for creating controllable bio-coatings on materials.
• Developing advanced biomaterials is essential for enhancing cell adhesion and function in tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize polysaccharide/protein multilayers using chitosan and fibrinogen via LbL assembly.
• To investigate the impact of bilayer order and concentration on cardiomyocyte viability and morphology.
• To explore the potential of fibrinogen-containing multilayers for cardiac tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of chitosan/fibrinogen multilayers using immersive layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly.
• Surface characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and contact angle measurements.
• Cell morphology and viability assessment using confocal microscopy on cardiomyocytes.

Main Results:

• LbL deposition demonstrated synergistic enhancement of biopolymer adsorption.
• Multilayer surface wettability alternated between hydrophilic and less hydrophilic based on the last deposited biopolymer.
• Increased solution concentration led to higher fibrinogen deposition, with potential interdigitation at low concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan/fibrinogen multilayers fabricated by LbL assembly show promise for improving cardiomyocyte adhesion and spreading.
• The study highlights the influence of bilayer order and concentration on surface properties and cell response.
• Fibrinogen-enriched polysaccharide multilayers are a promising strategy for enhanced cytocompatibility in cardiac tissue engineering.