Development of Chitosan/y-Polyglutamic Acid Polyelectrolyte Complexes for Tissue Regeneration

摘要

This communication reports on the preparation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) of chitosan (Ch) and yGpoly-glutamic acid (y-PGA) by layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique. The aims are to establish the optimal conditions for PEC formation and investigate their properties, namely stability and suitability as a substrate for supporting osteogenesis and chondrogenesis. The final objective is to develop 3D scaffolds for tissue regeneration. Chitosan (Ch) is a cationic polysaccharide widely used for biomedical applications, in particular in bone tissue engineering, constituted by N-glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine units that can be enzymatically degraded in non-toxic products. Poly-glutamic acid (PGA) is a hydrophilic, non-toxic, biodegradable and negatively charged poly-aminoacid. Glutamate was shown to be involved in bone formation and PGA has already been used to enhance the hydrophilicity and cytocompatibility of Ch-based biomateriais. However, only recently the potential of Ch/PGA complexes for tissue regeneration started to be addressed.