Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group

Papers in Scientific Journals

Nanocellulose reinforced gellan gum hydrogels as potential biological substitutes for annulus fibrosus tissue regeneration

Abstract

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is related to both structural damage and aging. Annulus fibrosus (AF) defects such as annular tears, herniation and discectomy require novel strategies to functionally repair AF tissue. An ideal construct will repair the AF by providing physical and biological support and by facilitating regeneration. The present strategy proposes a gellan gum-based construct reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (nCell) as a biological self-gelling AF substitute. Nanocomposite hydrogels were fabricated and characterized for their swelling capacity and stability and physico-chemical properties. Rheological evaluation on the nanocomposites demonstrated the GGMA reinforcement with nCell and thus matrix entanglements with higher stiffness upon ionic crosslinking.  Compressive mechanical tests demonstrate values close to those of the human AF tissue. Furthermore,cell culture studies by means of gel loading with bovine AF cells indicated that the construct promoted cell viability and a physiologically relevant morphology for up to fourteen days in vitro.

Journal
Nanomedicine-Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume
14
Issue
3
Pagination
897–908
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
1549-9634
URL
http://www.nanomedjournal.com/article/S1549-9634(17)30206-X/fulltext
Keywords
Annulus Fibrosus, Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Methacrylated Gellan-gum, Nanocellulose, Nanocomposite Hydrogels, Self-gelling
Rights
Open Access
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Status
published
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