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Biomedical subjects

Changyou Gao

Publications and source records attributed to Changyou Gao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Layer-by-layer assembly of biomacromolecules on poly(ethylene terephthalate) films and fiber fabrics to promote endothelial cell growth.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film and PET vascular graft were modified by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of collagen and chondroitin sulfate (CS) to mimic the natural composition and structure of extracellular matrix. PET materials were first hydrolyzed to endow the surfaces with negative charge. Alternative assembly of positively charged collagen and negatively charged CS was then conducted in an LBL manner to produce biological multilayers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the occurrence of hydrolysis and existence of collagen and CS. The stepwise layer growth on the PET film was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. The multilayers had sufficient stability to pass through the cell culture period (8 days). In vitro endothelial cell culture revealed that the incorporated biomacromolecules could significantly improve the cell attachment, proliferation, and viability. Cells showed more spreading morphology with preserved phenotype, as illustrated by scanning electron microscopy and factor VIII-related antigen immunocytochemistry, respectively.

Blood Vessels↗

Hydrogel-filled polylactide porous scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

Polymer porous scaffolds and hydrogels have been separately employed as analogues of the native extra-cellular matrix (ECM). However, both of these two kinds of materials have their own advantages and shortcomings. In this work, an attempt to combine the advantages of these two kinds of materials is carried out. Poly-L-lactide (PLLA) scaffolds with good mechanical properties were prepared by thermally induced phase separation, which were then filled with hydrogel aiming at entrapment of cells within a support of predefined shape. Agar, which has a function to promote chondrogenesis, was selected to entrap chondrocytes, acting as analogues of native ECM. A straight forward merit of this construct is that both mechanical strength and macroscopic shape, and analogous ECM can be simultaneously achieved. The morphology and distribution of the chondrocytes were studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cell growth behaviors were determined by MTT assay and collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) secretion. After culture for 7 and 14 days, the cells in the construct were round and surrounded by the hydrogel. The MTT viability and the cell secretion in the chondrocytes/agar/scaffold construct were also higher than that of the chondrocytes/scaffold construct (control). Gelatin was further introduced into the construct, yielding improved GAG secretion and cytoviability. After implantation in the subcutaneous dorsum of nude mice for 4 weeks, cartilage-like specimens maintaining their original rectangular shapes were harvested. Histological examination showed that new cartilage was regenerated and a large quantity of collagen and GAG were secreted, while the cells in the control PLLA scaffold turned to be fibroblast-like with less secretion of extracellular matrices. The method provides a useful pathway of scaffold preparation and cell transplantation, which can achieve suitable mechanical properties and good cell performance simultaneously.

Animals↗

Covalently crosslinked chitosan hydrogel formed at neutral pH and body temperature.

Water-soluble chitosan having double bonds (CS-MA-LA) was synthesized by sequential grafting of methacrylic acid (MA) and lactic acid (LA) via the reaction between amino groups and carboxyl groups under the catalysis of carbodiimide. Its molecular structure was verified by FTIR and (1)H NMR characterizations. Elemental analysis measured grafting ratios of 19% and 10.33% for MA and LA, respectively. CS-MA-LA was readily soluble in pure water and did not precipitate till pH 9. Gelation of the CS-MA-LA was realized by thermal treatment at body temperature under the initiation of a redox system, ammonium persulfate (APS)/N, N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED). The gelation time could be mediated in a wide range, e.g. from 6 to 20 min, by reaction temperature and/or initiator's concentration. 3T3 fibroblast culture showed that the cytotoxicity of the hydrogel extractant was dependent on the cell seeding number and the initiator's concentration. With enough number of cells (>2.5 x 10(4)) and low initiator's concentration (5 mM), the cytotoxicity introduced by the initiator is very minimal and negligible. Although the hydrogel could cause acute inflammation and foreign body reaction, no tissue necrosis and malignant infection were evidenced in vivo, demonstrating that the material has better histocompatibility. These features have endowed the chitosan with great opportunity as injectable biomaterials, which may find wide applications in the rapidly developed fields such as tissue engineering and orthopedics.

3T3 Cells↗

Covalently crosslinked chitosan hydrogel: properties of in vitro degradation and chondrocyte encapsulation.

In vitro degradation and chondrocyte-encapsulation of chitosan hydrogel made of crosslinkable and water-soluble chitosan derivative (CML) at neutral pH and body temperature were studied with respect to weight loss, cytoviability, DNA content and cell morphology. In vitro degradation of the chitosan hydrogels was sensitive to their crosslinking degree and existence of lysozyme in the solution. Chitosan hydrogel (Gel-I5) fabricated from 1% CML and 5mM ammonium persulfate (APS)/N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) displayed no degradation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) after 18d, but degraded completely at 8d in 1mg/ml lysozyme/PBS. The chitosan hydrogel fabricated from 10mM APS/TMEDA was non-degradable even in lysozyme/PBS solution after 18d. The hydrogel loaded with chondrocytes in cell culture medium, however, was susceptible to degradation during the in vitro culture. In vitro culture of the encapsulated chondrocytes in the chitosan hydrogel demonstrated that the cells retained round shaped morphology and could survive through a 12d-culture period, although the DNA assay detected an overall reduction of the cell number. These features provide a great opportunity to use the chitosan hydrogel as an injectable scaffold in tissue engineering and orthopaedics.

Animals↗

Equilibrium distribution of permeants in polyelectrolyte microcapsules filled with negatively charged polyelectrolyte: the influence of ionic strength and solvent polarity.

The effects of ionic strength and solvent polarity on the equilibrium distribution of fluorescein (FL) and FITC-dextran between the interior of polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules filled with negatively charged strong polyelectrolyte and the bulk solution were systematically investigated. A negatively charged strong polyelectrolyte, poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), used for CaCO3 core fabrication, was entrapped inside the capsules. Due to the semipermeability of the capsule wall, a Donnan equilibrium between the inner solution within the capsules and the bulk solution was created. The equilibrium distribution of the negatively charged permeants was investigated by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy as a function of ionic strength and solvent polarity. The equilibrium distribution of the negatively charged permeants could be tuned by increasing the bulk ionic strength to decrease the Donnan potential. Decreasing the solvent polarity also could enhance the permeation of FL, which induces a sudden increase of permeation when the ethanol volume fraction was higher than 0.7. This is mainly attributed to the precipitation of PSS. A theoretical model combining the Donnan equilibrium and Manning counterion condensation was employed to discuss the results.

Journal Article↗

Compression-inhibited pore formation of polyelectrolyte multilayers containing weak polyanions: a scanning force microscopy study.

Morphological changes of poly(acrylic acid)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) multilayers induced by low pH were investigated by scanning force microscopy. The weakened interaction between the charged polymer chains in the protonation process is believed to be the reason for this variation. Kinetic studies have shown that during protonation phase separation and dissociation of the multilayers took place successively. The compression of the multilayers, however, caused a transition of the multilayers from a rubbery state to a glassy state. As a result, the closely compacted multilayers lost their sensitivity to pH change. An increase of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, can decrease the free energy of the multilayers, and stabilize the films. By compression of the multilayers with a rubber stamp having geometric patterns, films with spatially localized pores were produced.

Journal Article↗

Chitosan-mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles on patterned poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces.

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles on surfaces has been accomplished by the incubation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) films in tetrachloroauric(III) acid and chitosan solution at room temperature and 4 degrees C. One important point in the present study is that the synthesis selectively occurred on the PDMS surface. These observations are substantially different from the reaction in solution, in which no particles can be formed at room temperature. Computation of surface plasmon bands (SPBs) based on Mie theory suggests that the particles are partially coated by chitosan molecules, and the experimental results confirm the theoretical calculations. The proposed mechanism is that chitosan molecules adsorbed or printed on the PDMS surfaces act as reducing/stabilizing agents. Furthermore, PDMS films patterned with chitosan could induce localized synthesis of gold nanoparticles in regions capped with chitosan only. In this way, colloidal patterns were fabricated on the surfaces with high spatial selectivity simultaneously with the synthesis of the particles. Surface-induced fluorescence quenching was observed in the regions capped with gold nanoparticles as well.

Chitosan↗

Assembly of multilayer microcapsules on CacO3 particles from biocompatible polysaccharides.

Multilayer microcapsules were fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of natural polysaccharides onto CaCO3 particles, following with core removal. The micron-sized CaCO3 particles were synthesized by reaction between Ca(NO3)2 and Na2CO3 solutions in the existence of carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC). The incorporated amount of CMC in the CaCO3 particles was found to be 5.3 wt% by thermogravimetric analysis. Two biocompatible polysaccharides, chitosan and sodium alginate were alternately deposited onto the CaCO3(CMC) templates to obtain hollow microcapsules. Regular oscillation of surface charge as detected by zeta potential demonstrated that the assembly proceeded surely in a LbL manner. The stability of the microcapsules was effectively improved by cross-linking of chitosan with glutaraldehyde. The chemical reaction was verified by infrared spectroscopy. The microcapsules thus fabricated could be spontaneously filled with positively charged low molecular weight substances such as rhodamine 6G and showed good biocompatibility, as detected by in vitro cell culture.

Alginates↗

Multilayer microcapsules as anti-cancer drug delivery vehicle: deposition, Sustained release, and in vitro bioactivity.

A drug delivery system based on spontaneous deposition of soluble, low-molecular-weight therapeutic agents has been developed for the purpose of sustaining drug release. Layer-by-layer assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes onto melamine formaldehyde (MF) colloidal particles, followed by removal of the cores at low pH has yielded intact hollow microcapsules having the ability to induce deposition of various water-soluble substances. Dynamic observation by confocal laser scanning microscopy provided direct evidence of such deposition. Dependence of loading rate on molecular weight was investigated. Efficient loading of an anti-cancer drug, daunorubicin (DNR), was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Its release was quantified by fluorometry. The results indicated that loading, and subsequent release, could be tuned by factors such as feeding concentrations, temperature, and salt concentrations. The intrinsic mechanism of loading and release was discussed taking into account the interaction between the drugs and the poly(styrene sulfonate)/MF complex existing in the hollow capsules. With culture of the HL-60 cell line, a kind of human leukemia cell, the presence of DNR-loaded capsules was seen to steadily decrease the cyto-viability. Fluorescence intensity averaged from inside the circles as a function of incubation time.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Poly(ethylene glycol) micro-patterns as environmentally sensitive template for selective or non-selective adsorption.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a hydrophilic and repulsive polymer to non-specific adsorption, was stamped onto carboxylic acid-enriched polymer surfaces using the micro-contact printing technique. The patterns are stabilized via hydrogen bonds. Areas printed with PEG were then shown to be non-adsorbed with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran, while the poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) regions could via hydrogen bonding. Due to this contrast, well defined dextran patterns were obtained. Tuned with pH and temperature, the PEG molecules could be detached from the surfaces, erasing the template. Moreover, ionization of PMAA at higher pH induced an abrupt transition to an extended conformation, weakening the interactions between PMAA and dextran. Not only the dextran patterns lose their spatial selectivity, but also the overall adsorption amount is much lower. The pH sensitivity was in a quite narrow range, i.e. around pH 5. As the hydrogen bonds are also temperature sensitive, the attach points of PEG molecules on the surfaces disappeared at higher temperature. For poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) photografted surfaces, the pH sensitivity was more complicated due to the formation of the compact complexes of PEG and PAA molecules.

Adsorption↗

Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) via hydrolysis and layer-by-layer assembly of chitosan and chondroitin sulfate to construct cytocompatible layer for human endothelial cells.

Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film was performed by surface hydrolysis and layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly followed a mechanism of electrostatic adsorption of oppositely charged polymers, exemplified with chitosan and chondroitin sulfate (CS). Hydrolysis of PET in concentrated alkaline solution produced a carboxyl-enriched surface. The changes of weight loss and surface chemistry, morphology and wettability were monitored and verified by UV-vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and water contact angle. Assembly of positively charged chitosan and negatively charged CS was then conducted in a LBL manner to create multilayers on the hydrolyzed PET film. The process of layer growth and oscillation of surface wettability were monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and water contact angle measurement, respectively. In vitro cell culture revealed that the adherence of endothelial cells was significantly enhanced on the biomacromolecules-modified PET film with preserved endothelial cell function, in particular on those assembled with larger number of chitosan/CS layers. However, with regard to cell proliferation and viability properties after cultured for 4 days, minor difference was determined between the modified and the unmodified PET films.

Adsorption↗

Crosslinked polysaccharide nanocapsules: preparation and drug release properties.

Crosslinked polysaccharide and composite polysaccharide capsules with diameters ranging from 200 nm to several microns and wall thicknesses of several tens of nanometers have been fabricated by interfacial polymerization of methacrylated N,N-diethylaminoethyl dextran (DdexMA) and DdexMA-vinyl terminated polylactide macromonomers (PLAM). In this method, chloroform droplets or PLAM-containing chloroform droplets were dispersed in water, on which water soluble DdexMA was polymerized to form closed shell structure. Their hollow nature was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic light scattering revealed that these capsules possess good stability against coagulation during storage. Fourier transform infrared and elemental analysis found that the DdexMA capsules were actually composed of crosslinked DdexMA, while the DdexMA-PLAM capsules were composed of the crosslinked DdexMA-PLAM copolymers and PLAM. By dissolution of ibuprofen in the chloroform droplets, drug-loaded capsules were also fabricated. It was found that the loaded drug could be released again in a sustained manner for up to 100 h. The capsule walls had a prominent effect in slowing down the drug release rate, particularly for the DdexMA-PLAM capsules.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Ibuprofen-loaded nanoparticles prepared by a co-precipitation method and their release properties.

A co-precipitation method was established to fabricate nano-scale core-shell particles, by which poor water-soluble drugs can be effectively dispersed with rather good stability during storage. Exemplified with formation of ibuprofen (Ib) nanoparticles stabilized by DEAE dextran (Ddex), the process includes precipitation of Ib in a supersaturated solution and deposition of Ddex onto the precipitated Ib particles through electrostatic interaction. Characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, the core-shell structure of the particles formed at pH 6.0 with a Ddex/Ib weight ratio of 5:1 was identified with Ib being the core and Ddex being the shell. As a comparison, particles formed at other pH values and other Ddex/Ib ratios were also studied. Along with increase of the Ddex/Ib ratio or pH value of the final aqueous solution, the particle size was decreased, demonstrating that the particle sizes could be readily tuned by variation of the fabrication parameters. At conditions that the Ib concentration was lower than its supersaturated value, for example at higher pH value, instead of co-precipitation mechanism, forces such as electrostatic complexation dominate the formation of Ddex-Ib particles. Moreover, drug entrapment was mainly dependent on the Ib solubility regardless of the ratio between Ddex and Ib, while the drug content was decreased as a function of Ddex/Ib ratio. In vitro release studies showed that the loaded Ib could be again released in a burst manner during the initial stage, followed with a slow rate. The final released amount of Ib showed a positive correlation with the bulk pH value, e.g. approximately 60, 80 and 90% of the loaded Ib were released in pH 1.0, 5.8 and 7.4 buffered solutions after incubation for 40 h, respectively.

Chemical Precipitation↗

Printing biomacromolecules on a bovine serum albumin precursor layer.

Various biomacromolecules including proteins and polysaccharides are printed on a substrate capped with a bovine serum albumin (BSA) precursor layer to create clear co-patterns of these molecules. Characterizations by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrate the successful production and clear boundaries of the co-patterns. Rinsing the BSA-adsorbed substrate and the biomacromolecules-inked stamp before microcontact printing (microCP) is crucial for the creation of clear and stable co-patterns. The patterns are mainly stabilized by electrostatic interactions and van der Waals forces. Characterizations by ellipsometry, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy reveal that printing by a flat PDMS stamp yields a denser layered structure of proteins with a higher amount than that of adsorbed proteins. By printing, however, a lower enzymatic catalytic activity for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or binding capability for avidin (both normalized to amount) is determined. A conformational transition from alpha-helix to beta-sheet of HRP is observed by ATR-IR. By contrast, a BSA precursor layer can effectively improve the functionality of the printed HRP or avidin and preserve the original conformation of the proteins, although the absolute transferred amount of these proteins is decreased.

Animals↗

Charge-controlled permeability of polyelectrolyte microcapsules.

Multilayer microcapsules showing unique charge-controlled permeability have been successfully fabricated by employing poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)-doped CaCO3 particles as templates. Encapsulation of the PSS molecules is thus achieved after core removal. Scanning force microscopy (SFM), UV-vis, Raman spectroscopy, and zeta-potential confirm the existence of the PSS molecules in the CaCO3 particles and the resultant microcapsules, which are initially incorporated during the core fabrication process. A part of these additionally introduced PSS molecules interacts with PAH molecules residing on the inner surface of the multilayer wall to form a stable complex, while the other part is intertwined in the capsule wall or in a free state. Capsules with this structure possess many special features, such as highly sensitive permeability tuned by probe charge and environmentally controlled gating. They can completely reject negatively charged probes, but attract positively charged species to form a higher concentration in the capsule interior, as evidenced by confocal microscopy. For example, the capsules completely exclude dextran labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-dextran), but are permeable for dextran labeled with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC-dextran) having similar molecular mass (from 4 to 70 kDa), although there are only few charged dyes in a dextran chain. By reversing the charge of the probes through pH change, or by suppressing charge repulsion through salt addition, the permeation can be readily switched for proteins such as albumin or small dyes such as fluorescein sodium salt.

Journal Article↗

Preformed microcapsules for loading and sustained release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride.

A novel pathway for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride delivery system based on spontaneous deposition mechanism was introduced with respect to encapsulation, quantitative drug loading and sustained release. Layer-by-layer assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes onto melamine formaldehyde (MF) colloidal particles, followed by removal of the cores at low pH has yielded hollow microcapsules having a unique property to induce spontaneous deposition of various water-soluble substances. Observations under scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy provided direct proofs of the spontaneous deposition. The quantitative drug loading and sustained release properties were elucidated. Results show that the loaded drug is proportional to drug feeding concentrations, temperature and salt concentrations, demonstrating tailorable deposition behavior that is crucial for the drug carrier. The deposited ciprofloxacin hydrochloride could be again released in a sustained manner and exhibited a significant antiseptic activity with high biocompatibility.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Loading and release behaviors of compressed polyelectrolyte multilayers for small dye molecules.

Loading and release behaviors of compressed polyelectrolyte multilayers composed of poly(styrenesulfonate sodium salt) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) were investigated using fluorescein and rhodamine 6G as indicators by confocal laser scanning microcopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Compression of the multilayers resulted in a more densely packed microstructure, leading to the decrease of fluorescence intensity of the incorporated probes to 80% of its initial value, and much slower releasing rate as well as smaller releasing amount regardless of the types of the probes and the presence of salt. Utilizing the difference of loading and release rates between the compressed and the uncompressed regions, arrays of dye reservoirs have been fabricated on a chemical homogeneous but physical heterogeneous multilayer film.

Coloring Agents↗