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Published on: August 19, 2015
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Quaternized Chitosan/Heparin Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films for Protein Delivery
Tomasz Urbaniak1,2, Gabriela S García-Briones1, Alexander Zhigunov1
1Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Square 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic.
Biomacromolecules
|October 27, 2022
Summary
This study presents stable layer-by-layer films using chitosan, heparin, and tannic acid for controlled protein release. These bioactive coatings show promise for stimulating cellular responses in biomaterials.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Layer-by-layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte coatings are explored for incorporating bioactive proteins into biomaterials.
- Maintaining protein bioactivity during incorporation into delivery systems requires mild fabrication conditions.
- Heparin-binding proteins are crucial for modulating cell-biomaterial interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop LbL films using chitosan, heparin, and tannic acid for controlled release of bioactive proteins under physiological conditions.
- To investigate the effect of film architecture and protein incorporation method on stability and release kinetics.
- To assess the bioactivity and cellular response to released proteins.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of LbL films using N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium)propyl] chitosan chloride (HTCC), heparin (Hep), and tannic acid (TA) under physiological conditions.
- Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and X-ray reflectivity (XRR) for film characterization and stability assessment.
- In vitro protein release studies over 4 weeks and assessment of released protein bioactivity via T-lymphocyte chemotaxis.
Main Results:
- LbL films with an anchoring HTCC/TA bilayer and TA crosslinking demonstrated enhanced stability, thickness, and protein release.
- Incorporating proteins within heparin layers, rather than as separate layers, increased protein release.
- Different proteins (VEGF, CXCL12, TGF-β1, FGF-2) exhibited varied release profiles, with FGF-2 showing sustained release over 4 weeks.
- Released proteins retained bioactivity, evidenced by significant T-lymphocyte chemotaxis in response to CXCL12.
Conclusions:
- LbL films fabricated under physiological conditions using HTCC, Hep, and TA offer a stable platform for bioactive protein delivery.
- The film architecture and protein incorporation strategy significantly influence release kinetics and protein retention.
- These nontoxic coatings effectively deliver bioactive proteins, demonstrating potential for stimulating specific cellular responses in biomaterial applications.
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