Hydroxypropyl Cellulose/Pluronic-Based Composite Hydrogels as Biodegradable Mucoadhesive Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Recently, the development of new materials with the desired characteristics for functional tissue engineering, ensuring tissue architecture and supporting cellular growth, has gained significant attention. Hydrogels, which possess similar properties to natural cellular matrixes, being able to repair or replace biological tissues and support the healing process through cellular proliferation and viability, are a challenge when designing tissue scaffolds. This paper provides new insights into hydrogel-based polymeric blends (hydroxypropyl cellulose/ Pluronic F68), aiming to evaluate the contributions of both components in the development of new tissue scaffolds. In order to study the interactions within the hydrogel blends, FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopies were used. The porosity and the behavior in moisture medium were highlighted by SEM and DVS analyses. The biodegradability of the hydrogel blends was studied in a simulated biological medium. The hydrogel composition was determinant for the scaffold behavior: the HPC component was found to have a great influence on the BET and GAB areas, on the monolayer values estimated from sorption–desorption isotherms and on mucoadhesivity on small intestine mucosa, while the Pluronic F68 component improved the thermal stability. All blends were also found to have good mechanical strength and increased biocompatibility on the NHDF cell line. Based on their particular compositions and increased mucoadhesivity on small intestine mucosa, these polymeric blends could be effective in the repair or recovery of damaged cell membranes (due to the contribution of Pluronic F68) or in control drug-delivery intestinal formulations.

Biocompatible Self-Assembled Hydrogen-Bonded Gels Based on Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents and Hydroxypropyl Cellulose with Strong Antimicrobial Activity

“…H-bonds energy (E H ) and distance (R) of original NADES and HPC-NADES solutions ( Table 1 ) have been estimated by using Sederholm and Struszczyk methods by a previously published procedure [ 19 ].…”

“…The resolution of the registered spectra was 4 cm −1 .The O-H and N-H spectral regions in the 3800–3000 cm −1 spectral range were deconvoluted with the curve-fitting function accessible from OPUS 6.5 software (Bruker, Ettlingen, Germany). The maxima peak’s position was determined by second derivative of the spectra and used to calculate the energy of the hydrogen bonding and the H-bond distance according to a procedure already described [ 19 ].…”

Are Natural Compounds a Promising Alternative to Synthetic Cross-Linking Agents in the Preparation of Hydrogels?

“…Generally, these polymers enable the production of hydrogels that offer desirable properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-cytotoxicity. Given their various positive features, hydrogel materials have been widely used in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, e.g., in wound healing dressings, controlled drug or vaccine delivery systems, soft tissue engineering, tissue implants, hygiene products, and in the production of contact lenses ( Figure 1 ) [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Containing Calendula Extract as a Wound Healing Bandage: In Vivo Test

“…Hydrogels are three-dimensionally reticulated polymeric matrices that have the ability to absorb large amounts of water and biological liquids [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Due to their great capacity to absorb water, the presence of cavities and their smooth firmness, they mimic natural living tissues more than any other class of biomaterials [ 20 , 21 ].…”