Biocompatible coatings based on photo-crosslinkable cellulose derivatives

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Fossil-based plastics pose environmental challenges in biomedical applications.
• Renewable materials offer sustainable alternatives for advanced applications.
• Cellulose derivatives are promising biomaterials due to their abundance and versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize cellulose-based photoresists from renewable resources.
• To evaluate the potential of these novel biomaterials for biomedical applications, focusing on cell adhesion and viability.
• To explore their use as alternatives to conventional polystyrene in cell culture.

Main Methods:

• Cellulose was esterified with methacrylic acid anhydride and sorbic acid to create photoresists.
• Polymerization of the cellulose derivatives was induced using UV irradiation (254–365 nm).
• Cell adhesion was quantified using a centrifugation assay with HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells.
• Cell viability was assessed on the biomaterial surfaces compared to polystyrene controls.

Main Results:

• Cellulose-based photoresists were successfully synthesized and polymerized under UV light.
• Cell adhesion to the modified cellulose surfaces was significantly stronger than to polystyrene.
• HT-1080 cells attached directly to the modified cellulose surfaces without protein modifiers.
• Cell viability on the cellulose derivatives was comparable to polystyrene, indicating good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• Cellulose-based photoresists derived from renewable resources show excellent potential for biomedical applications.
• These materials offer superior cell adhesion properties and biocompatibility compared to polystyrene.
• They can serve as sustainable alternatives for cell culture supports, scaffolds, and coatings.