1
|
Mucaria A, Giuri D, Tomasini C, Falini G, Montroni D. Tunable Oxidized-Chitin Hydrogels with Customizable Mechanical Properties by Metal or Hydrogen Ion Exposure. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:164. [PMID: 38667781 PMCID: PMC11051383 DOI: 10.3390/md22040164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This study focuses on the optimization of chitin oxidation in C6 to carboxylic acid and its use to obtain a hydrogel with tunable resistance. After the optimization, water-soluble crystalline β-chitin fibrils (β-chitOx) with a degree of functionalization of 10% were obtained. Diverse reaction conditions were also tested for α-chitin, which showed a lower reactivity and a slower reaction kinetic. After that, a set of hydrogels was synthesized from β-chitOx 1 wt.% at pH 9, inducing the gelation by sonication. These hydrogels were exposed to different environments, such as different amounts of Ca2+, Na+ or Mg2+ solutions, buffered environments such as pH 9, PBS, pH 5, and pH 1, and pure water. These hydrogels were characterized using rheology, XRPD, SEM, and FT-IR. The notable feature of these hydrogels is their ability to be strengthened through cation chelation, being metal cations or hydrogen ions, with a five- to tenfold increase in their storage modulus (G'). The ions were theorized to alter the hydrogen-bonding network of the polymer and intercalate in chitin's crystal structure along the a-axis. On the other hand, the hydrogel dissolved at pH 9 and pure water. These bio-based tunable hydrogels represent an intriguing material suitable for biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Devis Montroni
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.M.); (D.G.); (C.T.); (G.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Knight BM, Edgar KJ, De Yoreo JJ, Dove PM. Chitosan as a Canvas for Studies of Macromolecular Controls on CaCO 3 Biological Crystallization. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1078-1102. [PMID: 36853173 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
A mechanistic understanding of how macromolecules, typically as an organic matrix, nucleate and grow crystals to produce functional biomineral structures remains elusive. Advances in structural biology indicate that polysaccharides (e.g., chitin) and negatively charged proteoglycans (due to carboxyl, sulfate, and phosphate groups) are ubiquitous in biocrystallization settings and play greater roles than currently recognized. This review highlights studies of CaCO3 crystallization onto chitinous materials and demonstrates that a broader understanding of macromolecular controls on mineralization has not emerged. With recent advances in biopolymer chemistry, it is now possible to prepare chitosan-based hydrogels with tailored functional group compositions. By deploying these characterized compounds in hypothesis-based studies of nucleation rate, quantitative relationships between energy barrier to crystallization, macromolecule composition, and solvent structuring can be determined. This foundational knowledge will help researchers understand composition-structure-function controls on mineralization in living systems and tune the designs of new materials for advanced applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brenna M Knight
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Kevin J Edgar
- Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - James J De Yoreo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Patricia M Dove
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Montroni D, Di Giosia M, Calvaresi M, Falini G. Supramolecular Binding with Lectins: A New Route for Non-Covalent Functionalization of Polysaccharide Matrices. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175633. [PMID: 36080399 PMCID: PMC9457544 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemical functionalization of polysaccharides to obtain functional materials has been of great interest in the last decades. This traditional synthetic approach has drawbacks, such as changing the crystallinity of the material or altering its morphology or texture. These modifications are crucial when a biogenic matrix is exploited for its hierarchical structure. In this work, the use of lectins and carbohydrate-binding proteins as supramolecular linkers for polysaccharide functionalization is proposed. As proof of concept, a deproteinized squid pen, a hierarchically-organized β-chitin matrix, was functionalized using a dye (FITC) labeled lectin; the lectin used was the wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). It has been observed that the binding of this functionalized protein homogenously introduces a new property (fluorescence) into the β-chitin matrix without altering its crystallographic and hierarchical structure. The supramolecular functionalization of polysaccharides with protein/lectin molecules opens up new routes for the chemical modification of polysaccharides. This novel approach can be of interest in various scientific fields, overcoming the synthetic limits that have hitherto hindered the technological exploitation of polysaccharides-based materials.
Collapse
|
4
|
Montroni D, Kobayashi T, Hao T, Lublin D, Yoshino T, Kisailus D. Direct Ink Write Printing of Chitin-Based Gel Fibers with Customizable Fibril Alignment, Porosity, and Mechanical Properties for Biomedical Applications. J Funct Biomater 2022; 13:jfb13020083. [PMID: 35735938 PMCID: PMC9225658 DOI: 10.3390/jfb13020083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A fine control over different dimensional scales is a challenging target for material science since it could grant control over many properties of the final material. In this study, we developed a multivariable additive manufacturing process, direct ink write printing, to control different architectural features from the nano- to the millimeter scale during extrusion. Chitin-based gel fibers with a water content of around 1500% were obtained extruding a polymeric solution of chitin into a counter solvent, water, inducing instant solidification of the material. A certain degree of fibrillar alignment was achieved basing on the shear stress induced by the nozzle. In this study we took into account a single variable, the nozzle’s internal diameter (NID). In fact, a positive correlation between NID, fibril alignment, and mechanical resistance was observed. A negative correlation with NID was observed with porosity, exposed surface, and lightly with water content. No correlation was observed with maximum elongation (~50%), and the scaffold’s excellent biocompatibility, which appeared unaltered. Overall, a single variable allowed a customization of different material features, which could be further tuned, adding control over other aspects of the synthetic process. Moreover, this manufacturing could be potentially applied to any polymer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devis Montroni
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA or (D.M.); (T.H.)
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Takeru Kobayashi
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei 184-8588, Tokyo, Japan; (T.K.); (T.Y.)
| | - Taige Hao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA or (D.M.); (T.H.)
| | - Derek Lublin
- Materials and Manufacturing Technology Program, School of Engineering, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Tomoko Yoshino
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei 184-8588, Tokyo, Japan; (T.K.); (T.Y.)
| | - David Kisailus
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA or (D.M.); (T.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-949-824-2116
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barbalinardo M, Biagetti M, Valle F, Cavallini M, Falini G, Montroni D. Green Biocompatible Method for the Synthesis of Collagen/Chitin Composites to Study Their Composition and Assembly Influence on Fibroblasts Growth. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:3357-3365. [PMID: 34278777 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A green biocompatible route for the deposition and simultaneous assembly, by pH increment, of collagen/chitin composites was proposed. Both assembled and unassembled samples with different collagen/chitin ratios were synthesized, maintaining the β-chitin polymorph. The first set showed a microfibrous organization with compositional submicron homogeneity. The second set presented a nanohomogeneous composition based on collagen nanoaggregates and chitin nanofibrils. The sets were tested as scaffolds for fibroblast growth (NIH-3T3) to study the influence of composition and assembly. In the unassembled scaffolds, the positive influence of collagen on cell growth mostly worn out in 48 h, while the addition of chitin enhanced this effect for over 72 h. The assembled samples showed higher viability at 24 h but a less positive effect on viability along the time. This work highlighted critical aspects of the influence that composition and assembly has on fibroblast growth, a knowledge worth exploiting in scaffold design and preparation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Barbalinardo
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Nanostructured Materials (ISMN), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Biagetti
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Valle
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Nanostructured Materials (ISMN), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy.,Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (CSGI), ISMN-CNR, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Cavallini
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Nanostructured Materials (ISMN), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Falini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Devis Montroni
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|