Fucoidan Hydrogels Photo-Cross-Linked with Visible Radiation As Matrices for Cell Culture

Abstract

Algae are abundant sources of bioactive components with extensive therapeutic properties, receiving much interest in recent years. The research on marine brown algae, namely one of its polysaccharide-fucoidan, has increased exponentially. Fucoidan is a sulfated cell-wall polysaccharide with several reported biological properties including anticancer, antivirus, anticoagulant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, fucoidan was functionalized by grafting methacrylic groups in the chain backbone, photo-cross-linkable under visible light to obtain biodegradable structures for tissue engineering. The functionalization reaction was carried out by concentrations (8 and 12%) of methacrylic anhydride (MA). The modified fucoidan (MFu) was characterized by FTIR and 1 HNMR spectroscopy to confirm the functionalization. Further, modified fucoidan was photo-cross-linked under visible light and using superhydrophobic surfaces, to obtain spherical particles with controlled geometries benefiting from the high repellence of the surfaces. When using higher concentrations of MA, the particles were observed to exhibit a smaller average diameter. Moreover, the behavior of L929 mouse fibroblast-like cells was evaluated when cultured in contact with photo-cross-linked particles was investigated, being observed up to 14 days in culture. The photo-cross-linking of MFu under visible light enables thus the formation of particles here suggested as potentially relevant in a wide range of biomedical applications.

Photocrosslinked acemannan-based 3D matrices for in vitro cell culture

“…The functionalization of polysaccharides using methacrylation reactions, followed by photopolymerization, is not a new approach. 16,18,26 However, their application on ACE to produce 3D hydrogel networks has not been reported yet. The covalent bonds formed during the methacrylation reaction are expected to enhance the stability of the ACE in aqueous media.…”

“…[15][16][17] Beyond that, photocrosslinking allows 3D hydrogel networks to be produced with controlled shape and size. In our group, natural polymers such as fucoidan, 18 gellan gum 19 and k-carragenan 16 were modified already using specific unsaturated functional groups (e.g., glycidyl methacrylate, methacrylic anhydride). These groups undergo free radical polymerization in the presence of a photoinitiator upon ultraviolet (UV) or light irradiation, creating a variety of matrices for different biomedical applications.…”

Multipurpose Antifouling Coating of Solid Surfaces with the Marine‐Derived Polymer Fucoidan

“…The water contact angle of the Ti/TiO 2 and SS surfaces decreased from 45.0° and 56.8° to 25.2° and 21.2°, respectively ( Figure 3 ). The change in water contact angle showed that both solid substrates became hydrophilic due to the introduction of hydrophilic FD‐C onto their surfaces …”

Recent advances on open fluidic systems for biomedical applications: A review

“…Several methods for the production of superhydrophobic surfaces have been systematically compiled in different reviews [46,[48][49][50][51][52][53]. Examples include superhydrophobic surfaces produced by covalent layer-by-layer assembly of amine-reactive polymers [54,55]; UV-initiated radical polymerization of a hydrophobic monomer [56][57][58]; deposition of self-assembled monolayers of hydrophobic molecules in micro/nanostructured surfaces [59][60][61][62]; polymer precipitation through a phase separation method in a smooth surface [63][64][65]; drop-casting onto a sandpaper using a fluoroacrylic copolymer solution [66]; and vapor deposition of fluorosilane molecules in micro/nanostructured surfaces or by immersion within the fluorosilane solution [67][68][69][70][71].…”