Biocompatibility of Chitosan Hydrogels Based on Acrylic-N-Succinimidyl Ester Copolymer Crosslinker

As a natural amino polysaccharide,chitosan has good biocompatibility and renewable resources,but its application is limited due to poor mechanical properties. In this study,acrylic acid,N-vinylpyrrolidone and acrylic acid N-succinimide ester were used as monomers to obtain terpolymer macromolecular crosslinker,which was mixed with chitosan solution to prepare chitosan hydrogel. The composition,morphology and thermal stability of the synthesized polymer and chitosan gel were characterized by infrared,thermogravimetric analysis and SEM. The results showed that the average molecular weight of acrylate-N-succinimide ester copolymer was 111 900,which was water soluble. The chitosan hydrogel with the copolymer crosslinker showed good mechanical properties,swelling properties and water vapor permeation rate. Compared with the gel membrane prepared under acidic conditions,the thermal decomposition temperature of the crosslinked gel membrane in PBS (pH = 7. 4)in-creased,the contact angle of water became larger,and the mechanical properties were greatly improved. Cytotoxicity experiments had shown that chitosan gels have good biocompatibility. Human adipose-derived stem cells formed cell clusters on the gels and secreted exosomes on the chitosan gel membrane. By covering the chitosan gel membrane over the stem cells,the cells grew normally and secreted exosomes. Chitosan gels therefore have the potential to be applied to skin dressings after loading exosomes. © 2024 Cailiao Daobaoshe/ Materials Review. All rights reserved.