Starch-based hydrogels show relevant properties for tissue engineering
and loading of nanoparticulate systems.
Abstract
The synthesis of starch-based physical hydrogels in combination with
chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol, and their potential co-application with
chitosan nanoparticles was evaluated. The potential of starch-chitosan
hydrogel obtained by physical/chemical method for tissue engineering
uses was also studied in a mouse wound healing model. Although the
microscopical structure of each synthesized hydrogel suggests a possible
biological application, starch-polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel exhibited
rigid behavior with minor channel diameters, a lower swelling rate (less
than 300%), and negatively affected cell viability in a cytotoxicity
assay. Starch-chitosan hydrogel obtained by chemical crosslinking with
glutaraldehyde demonstrated the higher swelling rate (about 1100%),
cell viability values over 80%, and a homogeneous tri-dimensional
structure; along with an excellent interaction with chitosan
nanoparticles. This type of hydrogel was selected for an in vivo
experiment, showing significant differences in wound healing process
against a non-treated control, in terms of inflammation, exudate
production and tissue recovering.