Physicochemical properties of ionic and non-ionic biocompatible hydrogels in water and cell culture conditions: relation with type of morphologies of bovine fetal fibroblasts in contact with the surfaces.

RIVERO R; ALUSTIZA F; CAPELLA V; LIAUDAT A; RODRIGUEZ N; BOSCH P; BARBERO C; RIVAROLA C

COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017

0927-7765

Cationic, anionic and non-ionic hydrogels having acrylamide polymer backbones were synthesized via free radical polymerization with N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) as crosslinker. The chemical structures of the hydrogels were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Physicochemical properties such as swelling kinetic, maximum swelling capacity, volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) and wettability (static water contact angle) in aqueous and cell culture medium were studied both at room and cell culture temperatures, in order to correlate the surface properties of the hydrogels with cellular adhesivity of bovine fetal fibroblasts (BFFs). Cellular behaviour in contact with the hydrogels was analyzed by inverted fluorescence optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). MTT assay demonstrated that the number of viable cells in contact with hydrogels does not change significantly in comparison to a control surface. Flattened and spindle-shaped cells and cell spheroids were morphologies observed during first culture days on different hydrogels. Cell spheroids were easily obtained during the first 5 days of culture in contact with surfaces based on PNIPAM-co-20% HMA (poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co- 10% N-acryloyl-tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane)) hydrogel. After 15 days of culture all hydrogels showed high adhesion and visual proliferation. According to obtained results, non-ionic and hydrophilic surfaces with moderated wettability induce the cell spheroids formation of BFFs. Cell growth on hydrogel surfaces could be used in clinical and biochemical treatments at laboratory level and will allow generating the base for future biotechnology plataform.