A facile way to synthesize a photocrosslinkable methacrylated chitosan hydrogel for biomedical applications

Abstract

In this study, we introduced a novel and modified method to synthesize photocrosslinkable chitosan hydrogel. Three methacrylated samples under two concentrations of methacrylic anhydride and using EDC/NHS as a crosslinker were prepared. Methacrylated chitosan obtained under controlled conditions and using EDC/NHS had significant coupling efficiency and capacity of gel formation compared to other samples. Diluted culture media provided a favorable solubility condition for methacrylated chitosan and could be tolerated by cells during gelation time. The hydrogels included interconnected pores ranging 100–300 µm and swelling ratios of 40–400%. The results opened the new aspects for developing novel biomaterials in cell-based therapies.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Chitosan
• hydrogel
• methacrylation
• polysaccharide
• tissue engineering

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Ms Mojgan Khayat-Moghdam, Ms Fatemeh Karami, Dr Amir Amanzadeh, Dr Shahram Azari, Mr Morteza Mehrjoo and Mr Abolfazl Nazbar (National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran) for their valuable technical and scientific supports.

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences under Grant number [27551].