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. 2020 Apr 9;13(7):1763.
doi: 10.3390/ma13071763.

Hybrid Sponge-Like Scaffolds Based on Ulvan and Gelatin: Design, Characterization and Evaluation of Their Potential Use in Bone Tissue Engineering

Leto-Aikaterini Tziveleka  1 , Andreas Sapalidis  2 , Stefanos Kikionis  1 , Eleni Aggelidou  3 , Efterpi Demiri  4 , Aristeidis Kritis  3 , Efstathia Ioannou  1 , Vassilios Roussis  1
Affiliations

Hybrid Sponge-Like Scaffolds Based on Ulvan and Gelatin: Design, Characterization and Evaluation of Their Potential Use in Bone Tissue Engineering

Leto-Aikaterini Tziveleka et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Ulvan, a bioactive natural sulfated polysaccharide, and gelatin, a collagen-derived biopolymer, have attracted interest for the preparation of biomaterials for different biomedical applications, due to their demonstrated compatibility for cell attachment and proliferation. Both ulvan and gelatin have exhibited osteoinductive potential, either alone or in combination with other materials. In the current work, a series of novel hybrid scaffolds based on crosslinked ulvan and gelatin was designed, prepared and characterized. Their mechanical performance, thermal stability, porosity, water-uptake and in vitro degradation ability were assessed, while their morphology was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. The prepared hybrid ulvan/gelatin scaffolds were characterized by a highly porous and interconnected structure. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) were seeded in selected ulvan/gelatin hybrid scaffolds and their adhesion, survival, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation efficiency was evaluated. Overall, it was found that the prepared hybrid sponge-like scaffolds could efficiently support mesenchymal stem cells' adhesion and proliferation, suggesting that such scaffolds could have potential uses in bone tissue engineering.

Keywords: 3D scaffolds; BDDE; bone tissue engineering; gelatin; mesenchymal stem cells; ulvan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
UG hybrid scaffolds of different composition prepared under acidic and basic conditions. The amount of ulvan and gelatin used are reported as w/w ratio.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Schematic representation of the crosslinking of ulvan and gelatin with BDDE under (a) acidic and (b) basic conditions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM images of UG hybrid scaffolds prepared under acidic or basic conditions and with varying ulvan to gelatin weight ratios.
Figure 3
Figure 3
FTIR spectra of gelatin and UG scaffolds after crosslinking with BDDE. The FTIR spectra of gelatin and ulvan are also depicted for comparison reasons.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) TGA and (b) DTG thermogravimetric curves of gelatin, ulvan, and UG scaffolds.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Water uptake ability (%) of UG scaffolds as a function of time.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Degradation (%) of UG scaffolds as a function of incubation time at 37 °C.
Figure 7
Figure 7
FTIR spectra of the recovered UG scaffolds after incubation in PBS at 37 °C for 96 h.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Confocal images of UG(B) scaffolds seeded with hADMSCs. Live/dead staining with calcein AM/ethidium homodimer showing cell viability of hADMSCs (a–i) after 7 days culture and (j–o) after 21 days culture in osteogenic medium. The relative cell viability or mortality (%) are denoted in the upper right part of the images.
Figure 9
Figure 9
SEM images of UG(B) scaffolds seeded with hADMSCs, depicting the adhesion and spreading of hADMSCs inside the porous structure of the scaffolds after 21 days culture in osteogenic differentiation medium. (a) UG(B)3:7; (b) UG(B)5:5; and (c) magnification of UG(B)5:5 showing the changing morphology of hADMSCs towards osteogenic differentiation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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