Name: synthesis of thermogelling poly(n-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-chondroitin sulfate composites with alginate microparticles for tissue engineering
Uploaded: 2016-10-26T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Thermogelling PolyN-isopropylacrylamide-graft-chondroitin Sulfate Composites with Alginate Microparticles for Tissue Engineering at JoVE.com

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Jennifer Kadlowec in the development of the adhesive tensile testing protocol.
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1R15 AR 063920-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

1. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-chondroitin Sulfate Synthesis
<ol>
	<li>Prior to the synthesis of the bioadhesive hydrogel, purify N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomer and methacrylate chondroitin sulfate (CS).
	<ol>
		<li>Weigh out at least 10 g of NIPAAm and dissolve the monomer in 400 ml&#160;of n-hexane at 60 &#176;C. Stir the container periodically until complete dissolution. Recrystallize the solution in a -20 &#176;C freezer for 24 hr.</li>
		<li>Remove the crystallized monomer from the container and vacuum f...

There are several critical steps in synthesizing the hydrogel-microparticle composite and evaluating its adhesive strength, swelling ability, and cellular biocompatibility. Free radical polymerization of PNIPAAm-g-CS requires successful methacrylation of chondroitin sulfate, complete dissolution of monomer components, and oxygen-free reaction conditions. The ratio of NIPAAm monomer to methacrylated chondroitin sulfate in the reaction mixture was chosen because it has been demonstrated, in our previous work, to generate c...

Injectable biomaterials are those that can be conveniently delivered into the body as a liquid and solidify in situ. Such materials have been applied extensively in regenerative medicine, where they are used to deliver encapsulated cells to the affected site 1-4 and act as a three-dimensional temporary extracellular matrix for the cells 5. For the patient, injectable biomaterials are advantageous because the surgical procedures for implantation are minimally invasive and the solid phase can fill irregularly shaped tissue defects, eliminating the need for custom-size implants.
Injectability can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms. External factors, like pH, have been investigated as a trigger for the formation of gels that encapsulate cells and bioactive molecules6-8. However, pH may not be the most convenient trigger to use in all physiological environments. Another traditional alternative for achieving injectability is using in situ chemical polymerization or crosslinking. A group developed a water-soluble redox system composed of ammonium persulfate and N,N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tetramethylethylenediamine and used it for reacting macromers composed of polyethylene glycol and poly(propylene) glycol 9,10. Zan et al. 11 developed injectable chitosan polyvinylalcohol networks crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. In such systems, the cytotoxicity of reactive components must be considered, especially for applications involving cell encapsulation. Also, exothermic polymerization could produce high enough temperatures to compromise surrounding tissue, which has been reported for polymeric bone cements 12,13.
Still other injectable polymer systems have been developed that exhibit a change from the liquid to solid state with temperature as the trigger. Known as thermogelling systems, these are aqueous polymer solutions that do not require chemical stimulus, monomers, or crosslinkers to achieve in situ formation 14. Rather, a phase transition usually occurring near physiological temperature induces the formation of a physically crosslinked three-dimensional network. Poloxamers such as Pluronic F127 are among the most widely studied polymers for thermogelling drug delivery 15-17 and cell encapsulation 18,19. However, it is well accepted that these gels lack stability at physiological conditions. Studies have demonstrated increased stability using chain extenders 20 or chemical crosslinkers 21,22. Nevertheless, the use of these reagents may limit the potential of the materials for cell encapsulation.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) is a synthetic thermogelling polymer that has received significant attention in tissue engineering and drug delivery 14. Aqueous solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) exhibit a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), typically occurring around 32 - 34 &#176;C 23,24. Below the LCST, water hydrates PNIPAAm chains. Above the transition temperature, the polymer becomes hydrophobic, resulting in a dramatic phase separation 25-27 and formation of a solid gel without the use of toxic monomers or crosslinkers. However, PNIPAAm homopolymers exhibit poor elastic properties and hold little water at physiological temperature due to hydrophobicity 28. In this work, we choose to incorporate chondroitin sulfate covalently into the PNIPAAm network, which offers the potential for enzymatic degradability 29, anti-inflammatory activity 30,31, and increased water and nutrient absorption 32. PNIPAAm copolymers with CS were prepared in our laboratory by polymerizing the monomer NIPAAm in the presence of methacrylate-functionalized CS to form grafted copolymer (PNIPAAm-g-CS). Because of the low crosslinking density of the copolymer, PNIPAAm-g-CS forms a viscous solution in water at RT&#160;and an elastic gel at physiological temperature due to the LCST 29. The polymer solutions become flowable again upon cooling below the LCST due to the reversibility of the transition.
We have demonstrated that PNIPAAm-g-CS has the potential to function as a tissue engineering scaffold, due to mechanical properties that can be tailored, degradability, and cytocompatibility with human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells 29. However, in certain load bearing areas, such as the intervertebral disc, tissue engineering scaffolds should have the ability to form a substantial interface with surrounding disc tissue to eliminate the risk of dislocation 33. This interface is also necessary for the adequate transmission of force across the interface between the implant and the tissue 33. In our work, we have suspended alginate microparticles in aqueous solutions of PNIPAAm-g-CS and found that gelation localizes the microparticles, which provide adhesion with surrounding tissue 34. In this paper, we outline the steps for preparation of the thermogelling, adhesive polymer. Standard techniques for biomaterials characterization, cell imaging, and assays for viability were adapted to take into account the temperature sensitivity of the polymer and the reversibility of the phase transition. The injectable polymer described in this paper has wide potential for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications outside of those described in this paper. Moreover, the characterization methods described here may be applicable to other thermogelling systems.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="885">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">N-isopropylacrylamide, 99%, pure, stabilized</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Acros Organics</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">2210-25-5</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate and remove stabilier with hexane</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Chondroitin sulfate A sodium salt (from bovine trachea)</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">39455-18-0</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Hexanes</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">H302-4</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Store in a flammable cabinet</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">50% (w/w) sodium hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">SS254-1</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Caustic in nature</td>
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		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Methacrylic anhydride</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">276685</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Strong fumes; use in a fume hood</td>
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			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Acetone</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">A18-4</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Chill in a refrigerator prior to use</td>
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		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Nitrogen Gas</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Praxair</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">7727-37-9</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Part Number: NI 4.8, cylinder style T, 99.998% pure nitrogen (Argon may be used as an alternative inert gas)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Tetramethylethylenediamine, 99% extra pure</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Acros Organics</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">110-18-9</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
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		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Ammonium persulfate</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">A3678</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Hygroscopic and degrades in the presence of water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Phosphate buffered saline tablets</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">BP2944</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Keep dry</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Alginic acid, sodium salt</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Acros Organics</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">177775000</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Use heat to aid in dissolving</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Calcium chloride dihydrate</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">C79</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Canola oil</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Local store</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Obtain from a local store</td>
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			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Tween 20</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">93773</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">70% (v/v) Isopropoanol</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">A416-4</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Porcine ears</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Haine&#39;s Pork Shop</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Obtain from a local butcher</td>
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			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Sodium Chloride</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">S271-3</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Human embryonic kidney 293 cells</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">ATCC CRL-1573</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Store in liquid nitrogen for long-term use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">DMEM: 1X, high glucose, no pyruvate</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">11965126</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">10082-147</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Penn Strep: 10,000 U/ml</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">15140-122</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Trypsin-EDTA: 0.5%, 10X</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">15400-054</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
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		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Methanol</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">AAA44571-K7</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
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		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Live/Dead Cell viability kit</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">L3224</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Light sensitive, keep frozen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">XTT cell viability kit</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">TOX2-1KT</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Light sensitive, keep frozen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Clear DMEM: 1X, high glucose, no phenol</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">21063-029</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Dulbecco&#39;s PBS: 1X</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">14190136</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Refrigerate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Sodium citrate</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">EMD</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">SX0445-1</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Positive displacement pipette</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">BrandTech Scientific, INC</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">2702904</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Dispenses 100 - 500 &#181;L and comes with attachable tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">No 3. Stainless Steel scalpel handle</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">S2896</td>
			<td style="width:347px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Miltex sterile surgical blades</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">12-460-440</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Size 10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Power gem homogenizer</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">08-451-660</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # 125</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Porcelain mortar and pestle</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">Z247464</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Holds 50 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">FreeZone 1 L benchtop freeze dry system</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Labconco</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">7740020</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Freeze samples prior to use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Oil sealed rotary vane pump</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Edwards</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">A65301906</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # RV5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Incubating orbital shaker</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">12620-946</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # 980153</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Benchtop refrigerated centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Forma Scientific, INC</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # 5682</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Heated ovens</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # 1235PC</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">2 N force gauge</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Shimpo</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">FGV-0.5XY</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # FGV-0.5XY</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">E-force test stand</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Shimpo</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">FGS-200PV</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # FGS-200PV</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Tissue culture swinging bucket centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">366830</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model #6S-6KR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Tissue culture microcentrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model #5415C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Hemacytometer set</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Hausser Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">3720</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Requires replacement cover glass slips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Slide warmer</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Lab Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;">XH-2022</td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # XH-2002</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Portable heating lamp</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Underwriters Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Helps to maintain polymer temperature at 37&#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Inverted fluorescent microscope</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model Axiovert 25 CFL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:255px;">Heated water bath</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # 1235PC</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="36">
			<td height="36" style="height:36px;width:255px;">Rocking platform</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Series 100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="36">
			<td height="36" style="height:36px;width:255px;">Multiskan FC microtiter plate reader</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Type 357</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="36">
			<td height="36" style="height:36px;width:255px;">Cell culture incubator</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Model # 2350T</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="36">
			<td height="36" style="height:36px;width:255px;">Purifier class II biosafety cabinet</td>
			<td style="width:164px;">Labconco</td>
			<td style="width:120px;"></td>
			<td style="width:347px;">Delta Series</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

synthesis of thermogelling poly(n-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-chondroitin sulfate composites with alginate microparticles for tissue engineering

Injectable biomaterials are defined as implantable materials that can be introduced into the body as a liquid and solidify in situ. Such materials offer the clinical advantages of being implanted minimally invasively and easily forming space-filling solids in irregularly shaped defects. Injectable biomaterials have been widely investigated as scaffolds for tissue engineering. However, for the repair of certain load-bearing areas in the body, such as the intervertebral disc, scaffolds should possess adhesive properties. This will minimize the risk of dislocation during motion and ensure intimate contact with the surrounding tissue, providing adequate transmission of forces. Here, we describe the preparation and characterization of a scaffold composed of thermally sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-chondroitin sulfate (PNIPAAM-g-CS) and alginate microparticles. The PNIPAAm-g-CS copolymer forms a viscous solution in water at RT, into which alginate particles are suspended to enhance adhesion. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), around 30 &#176;C, the copolymer forms a solid gel around the microparticles. We have adapted standard biomaterials characterization procedures to take into account the reversible phase transition of PNIPAAm-g-CS. Results indicate that the incorporation of 50 or 75 mg/ml&#160;alginate particles into 5% (w/v) PNIPAAm-g-CS solutions quadruple the adhesive tensile strength of PNIPAAm-gCS alone (p&#60;0.05). The incorporation of alginate microparticles also significantly increases swelling capacity of PNIPAAm-g-CS (p&#60;0.05), helping to maintain a space-filling gel within tissue defects. Finally, results of the in vitro toxicology assay kit, 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) and Live/Dead viability assay indicate that the adhesive is capable of supporting the survival and proliferation of encapsulated Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293 cells over 5 days.

A thermally responsive grafted co-polymer was successfully synthesized and characterized for its bioadhesive strength, swelling properties, and in vitro cytocompatibility. We chose to investigate alginate due to its well-established mucoadhesive properties. Alginate microparticles, with an average diameter of 59.7 &#177; 14.9 &#181;m, were blended with 5% (w/v) PNIPAAm-g-CS at concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 mg/ml. These concentrations were based on one-half, equal to, and twice...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of Thermogelling PolyN-isopropylacrylamide-graft-chondroitin Sulfate Composites with Alginate Microparticles for Tissue Engineering at JoVE.com

Synthesis of Thermogelling PolyN-isopropylacrylamide-graft-chondroitin Sulfate Composites with Alginate Microparticles for Tissue Engineering

An injectable tissue engineering scaffold composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-chondroitin sulfate (PNIPAAm-g-CS)-containing alginate microparticles was prepared. The adhesive strength, swelling properties and in vitro biocompatibility are analyzed in this study. The characterization techniques developed here may be applicable to other thermogelling systems.

Synthesis of Thermogelling Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-graft-chondroitin Sulfate Composites with Alginate Microparticles for Tissue Engineering

Injectable biomaterials are defined as implantable materials that can be introduced into the body as a liquid and solidify in situ. Such materials offer ...

The overall goal of this methodology is to assess both the adhesive properties and cellular biocompatibility of the proposed hydrogel composite for intervertebral disc tissue engineering of the nucleus pulposus. This method can help answer key questions in the field of tissue engineering, like how to design and prepare thermal reversible hydrogels with bioadhesive properties for cell encapsulation. The main advantage of this technique is that we are able to demonstrate in-vitro studies with an injectable, thermally-sensitive composite to evaluate its use as a potential replacement for the nucleus pulposus.In this current study, we evaluate a novel hydrogel scaffold by performing both tensile mechanical tests, and cellular viability assays. Demonstrating the biocompatibility assays will be Emily Schmidt, Mark Dittmer, Edward Goldschmidt, and Frantzeska Giginis, students from the departments of Biological Sciences and Biochemistry. Prior to the synthesis of the bioadhesive hydrogel, purify NIPAAm monomer and mCS, as described in the text protocol.Then, co-dissolve 10 grams of purified NIPAAm and 2.209 grams of mCS in 232 milliliters of deionized water. Purge the solution of oxygen by using inert nitrogen gas. Maintain a vigorous, yet low gas flow rate, to prevent the solution from bubbling over for 15 minutes.Continue purging the solution with nitrogen gas and add 0.976 milliliters of TEMED. Next, initiate the polymerization reaction by mixing 97.6 milligrams of ammonium persulfate. Mix the solution for approximately 20 seconds, and quickly seal the solution to prevent any air from entering the vessel.Allow the solution to polymerize under fluorescent light for 24 hours before processing the sample into a fine powder, as described in the text protocol. Create an oil and water mixture by combining 100 milliliters of canola oil, one milliliters TWEEN 20, and 20 milliliters of 2%of alginate. Emulsify the mixture for 10 minutes with a homogenizer at 15, 000 RPM.Additionally, mix with a magnetic stir bar at 200 RPM to create large microparticles, or 2, 000 RPM to create small microparticles. Aspirate the 2%calcium chloride solution using a syringe with an 18-gauge needle tip. Slowly add the calcium chloride drop-wise into the emulsion.After allowing the microparticles to cross-link for 10 minutes, evenly distribute the batch of microparticles into capped 50 milliliter conical tubes. Centrifuge at 1, 400 times G for two minutes to remove the initial layer of canola oil before washing and lyophilizing the microparticles as described in the text protocol. Use the resulting freeze-dried polymer powder to create a 5%weight volume PNIPPAm graft CS solution by first dissolving 50 milligrams of hydrogel powder in one milliliter of 1X phosphate buffered saline, or PBS.Mix the solution using a vortexer before chilling in a refrigerator at four degrees Celsius for 24 hours. Once the viscous solution forms, create a homogenous composite by adding 25 or 50 milligrams of freeze-dried alginate microparticles to the hydrogel solution and vortexing. Store the composite in a refrigerator at four degrees Celsius for later use.Prior to performing tensile tests, extract cartilage substrate from a porcine ear, as detailed in the text protocol. Then, attach the force gauge to the arm of the test stand. Place a hotplate on top of the force stand, and set the temperature to 50 degrees Celsius.Then, affix a one centimeter by one centimeter piece of cartilage to the stainless steel block with cyanoacrylate glue and a pair of tweezers. Glue an additional piece of cartilage to the Delrin cylinder, and attach the cylinder to the force gauge. It is very important that both cartilage surfaces face each other and contact the hydrogel.Place the plexiglass water bath on top of the hotplate, and insert the stainless steel block with the cartilage substrate inside the bath. Lower the arm of the test stand, and align both cartilage substrates with one another. Then, raise the arm, leaving enough room to apply the hydrogel.With a positive displacement pipette, dispense 200 microliters of the bioadhesive hydrogel to the bottom piece of cartilage. Lower the arm of the force stand at one milliliter per minute until the hydrogel contacts the upper piece of cartilage, and exerts a preload force of 0.001 newtons. Pour the 37-degrees Celsius saline solution into the bath until the volume reaches the designated water level.Check the temperature of the solution with a thermocouple. After allowing the hydrogel to set for a total of five minutes, raise the arm at a speed of two millimeters per minute. The test is completed once the bioadhesive detaches from the cartilage substrate, or when a significant drop in force occurs, signaling failure.Collect the recorded data, and raise the arm of the test stand. Remove the Delrin cylinder from the force gauge. Pour the saline solution into its previous container, and reheat to 37 degrees Celsius.Calculate the stresses, as described in the text protocol. Before performing the Live/Dead assay with PNIPAAm graft CS, prepare human embryonic kidney, or HEK 293 cells, as detailed in the text protocol. Create positive control monolayers by pipetting multiple 300-microliter volumes of the cell mixture into a 24-well plate to generate four to six replicate samples.Maintain the same cell concentration by re-suspending the cells in approximately two milliliters of PNIPAAm graft CS for each replicate sample. Pipette the polymer cell mixture up and down using a serological pipette until homogenous. If seeding with alginate microparticles, transfer two milliliters of the PNIPAAm graft CS cell suspension into a 35-millimeter culture dish, and introduce 200 milligrams of particles into the mixture.Pipette the cell mixture up and down using a serological pipette until homogenous. Then, with a serological pipette, dispense multiple 300-microliters volumes of the polymer cell mixture into each of the wells for killed control, PNIPAAm graft CS, and PNIPAAm graft CS with alginate microparticles to generate four to six replicate samples. Incubate the plate at 37 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes, and allow the PNIPAAm graft CS to transition from a liquid to a gel.The polymer forms an opaque white disc. Position a slide warmer in the hood, and set the temperature to 37 degrees Celsius. Use the slide warmer to maintain well plate temperature, and pipette 600 microliters of pre-warmed media into each well.To further prevent the transitioning of the polymer to a liquid state, position a lamp with a fluorescent bulb above the dish to warm up the air above it. Incubate the cells for five days at 37 degrees Celsius with 5%carbon dioxide. After five days have elapsed, remove the media from the wells of the monolayer, PNIPAAm graft CS, and PNIPAAm graft CS with alginate microparticles.Wash all of the wells thoroughly, but gently, with PBS, and then, remove the PBS. Allow the hydrogel discs containing alginate microparticles to liquefy at room temperature, and add two milliliters of 50 millimolar sodium citrate to each of the wells. Remove the media from the killed cell wells.Allow the hydrogel discs to liquefy at room temperature, and add 300 microliters of 70%methanol to each well before incubating the plate for 45 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius. Remove the sodium citrate and methanol solutions from the wells, and pipette each of the hydrogel suspensions into individual microcentrifuge tubes. Centrifuge the tubes at 2, 000 times G for 10 minutes to separate the cells from the hydrogel suspension.Carefully remove the suspension by pipetting the solution from the conical tube, and leaving behind the cell pellet. Re-suspend the pellet in 300 microliters of PBS, and transfer to the original well plate. Next, add 300 microliters of the Live/Dead dye mix to each of the wells.Wrap the well plate in aluminum foil, and incubate for 45 minutes on a rocker at room temperature before imaging all of the samples under an inverted fluorescence microscope with a 10X objective. Representative tensile strength results for both PNIPAAm graft CS, and PNIPAAm graft CS with varying alginate microparticle formulations are shown here. The tensile strength of PNIPAAm graft CS quadrupled with the addition of 50 or 75 milligrams per milliliter of alginate microparticles.As expected, PNIPAAm graft CS contracts and shrinks in volume above its lower critical solution temperature. Introducing microparticles within the hydrogel imparts a swelling effect over a seven-day period in PBS. HEK 293 cells encapsulated in both PNIPAAm graft CS, and PNIPAAm graft CS with alginate microparticles showed active cellular fluorescence using Live/Dead dye after a period of five days.These results can be compared to the positive and negative control wells. In parallel, a quantitative assay was used to confirm the Live/Dead imaging, which showed no significant differences in cellular viability between PNIPAAm graft CS, PNIPAAm graft CS with alginate microparticles, and the control monolayer. A hydrogel composite consisting of thermally-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)grafted with chondroitin sulfate and alginate microparticles was created for nucleus pulposus replacement.While attempting this procedure, it's important to remember that the composite is temperature-sensitive, and will liquefy below its lower critical solution temperature. Once mastered, tensile mechanical tests can be performed with ease as long as careful precision is practiced. Swelling studies reveal a hydrogel's ability to retain water.However, these tests must mimic the native in-vivo environment. Cellular viability of the thermally-sensitive gels can be confirmed and assessed by a combination of fluorescence-marking and metabolic-producing reagents. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how thermally-sensitive injectables are applied in intervertebral discs, tissue engineering, and how composites may enhance certain material properties.

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

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