Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (18): 2880-2887.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1711

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Effects of adding strontium ions into photocrosslinked alginate hydrogels on its mechanical and biological properties

Zhao Delu1, Tie Chaorong1, Wang Xin1, Zhu Huaian2, Yang Sisi1, Li Xiaobao1, Yin Miao1 
  

  1. 1Center of Stomatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China; 2Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Wuhan Children’s Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2019-01-14 Online:2019-06-28 Published:2019-06-28
  • Contact: Yin Miao, MD, Attending physician, Center of Stomatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Zhao Delu, Master candidate, Center of Stomatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program), No. 81500899 (to YM)

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Photocrosslinked alginate gels have been attracting great interest due to its good stability, controllability and biocompatibility. However, as bone tissue engineering scaffolds, it still has some deficiencies, such as insufficient strength, poor cell adhesion performance and lack of bone induction.
OBJCTIVE: To explore the changes of mechanical and biological properties of photocrosslinked alginate gels doped strontium ions.
METHODS: After methacrylated alginate to form photocrosslinked methacrylated alginate hydrogels, photocrosslinked alginate hydrogels chelated strontium ions strontium ion-co-photocrosslinked methacrylated alginate were prepared by soaking photocrosslinked methacrylated alginate in strontium ion solution of different concentrations (0, 10, 30, 50, 80 and 100 mmol/L). The swelling ratio and elastic modulus of the gels were measured, and the surface morphology and elements of the materials were analyzed by scanning electric microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded on the surface of photocrosslinked alginate gels that were incorporated with different concentrations of strontium ion for 4 hours, and then live/dead staining was used to observe the cell adhesion. The cell spreading on day 3 was determined by live/dead staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Scanning electron microscope showed that the density of photocrosslinked alginate gels increased and the pore size decreased with the increase of strontium ion concentration. (2) Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that the strontium content on the surface of the gels increased along with the augment of the strontium ion concentration. (3) With the increase of strontium ion concentration, the swelling ratio of the hydrogels gradually decreased while the elastic modulus of photocrosslinked alginate gels gradually increased. (4) As strontium ion concentration increased, the early adhesion rate of MC3T3-E1 cells on the surface of photocrosslinked alginate gels was on a rise, and the cell extension gradually became better. (5) In summary, the addition of strontium ions into the photocrosslinked alginate gels can improve its mechanical properties and promote cell adhesion and extension.

Key words: sodium alginate, strontium, photocrosslinked, photocrosslinked alginate gels, bone tissue engineering, bone induction, hydrogels, strontium ions, mechanical properties of scaffold

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