Polyion complex fiber and capsule formed by self-assembly of poly-L-Lysine and gellan at solution interfaces

Abstract

Different characteristic surface structures such as capsules, regularly spaced droplets, and fibers are formed by electrostatic interaction between poly‐L‐lysine (PLL) and gellan gum via polyion complex (PIC) formation. Spherical droplet PIC capsules of varying diameters form in solutions. Some dyes adsorb on the surface of the capsules, and other dyes penetrate into the capsules. The strong PIC fiber can be spinnable by gravity and by wet spinning in ethanol. This fiber possesses a counterion pairing structure and exhibits the nervation/veining pattern and hollow yarn. The tensile strength of the fiber is 27.8 kg/mm2 [1.40 g/denier (d)] and the knotting strength is 9.98 kg/mm2 (1.13 g/d). By using an organic crosslinking agent, epichlorohydrin, the tensile strength can be increased to 38.5 kg/mm2 (2.46 g/d) and the knotting strength can be increased to 12.2 kg/mm2 (1.99 g/d). The PIC fiber can be dyed by five different dyeing procedures such as direct and vat dyeings. The PLL PIC fiber is water insoluble and has potential as a new synthetic polypeptide fiber technology. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 437–446, 2001

Collagen-based fibrous scaffold for spatial organization of encapsulated and seeded human mesenchymal stem cells

“…The PEC fibrous scaffold is designed to take advantage of the complementary merits of these two classes of biomaterials. Interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation has been used to produce polyion complex fibers like poly(lysine)–gellan [28] and water-soluble chitin–alginate [4] and we have previously applied this concept to encapsulate different biologics, including cells, using the alginate–chitin polyelectrolyte pair [4,6]. However, these alginate– chitin PEC fibers were mechanically weak and suboptimal for cell adhesion and proliferation.…”

Preparation of γ-PGA/chitosan composite tissue engineering matrices

“…When a negatively charged polyelectrolyte such as alginate or g-PGA is introduced, a polyion complex can be formed by electrostatic attraction at the interfaces [18,19]. This phenomenon was used to fabricated fibers and capsules in several previous studies [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. However, it is quite difficult to obtain a homogeneous solution of g-PGA and chitosan.…”

Preparation of Silk‐Like Fibers Designed by Self‐Assembled Ionic Polypeptides

“…The method designed using polymer and interfacial chemistry was simple, versatile, and practiced under conditions that were closer to natural conditions. Most recently, we have succeeded in preparing water‐insoluble self‐assembled capsules and fibers by forming PICs as a thin film between two oppositely charged polyelectrolyte aqueous solutions, and by skillfully controlling the interface made out of the thin film 19–23. Our first work involved the formation and the characteristics of polysaccharide PIC fibers and capsules formed by electrostatic interactions with cationic chitosan19 [(1 → 4)‐2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐ β ‐ D ‐glucan] and anionic gellan20 (comprising 1,3‐ β ‐ D ‐glucose, 1,4‐ β ‐ D ‐glucuronic acid, 1,4‐ β ‐ D ‐glucose, and 1,4‐ α ‐ L ‐rhamnose), in aqueous solutions 21.…”

“…Our first work involved the formation and the characteristics of polysaccharide PIC fibers and capsules formed by electrostatic interactions with cationic chitosan19 [(1 → 4)‐2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐ β ‐ D ‐glucan] and anionic gellan20 (comprising 1,3‐ β ‐ D ‐glucose, 1,4‐ β ‐ D ‐glucuronic acid, 1,4‐ β ‐ D ‐glucose, and 1,4‐ α ‐ L ‐rhamnose), in aqueous solutions 21. The poly( α , L ‐lysine) (PLL)/gellan22 and chitosan/poly( α , L ‐glutamic acid) (PLG)23 PIC fibers and capsules are the first and second PIC materials composed of polysaccharides and polypeptides.…”