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An Injectable In Situ Forming Collagen/Alginate/CaSO4 Composite Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering Applications: Optimization, Characterization and In Vitro Assessments

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Abstract

In situ injectable hydrogels are effectively employed to fill irregular cavitary bone defects with initiating bone growth in targeted areas. Herein, an injectable composited hydrogel composed of collagen and alginate cross-linked in situ using different concentrations of calcium sulfate (0.15, 0.3 and 0.6%, wt./v) was synthesized. Recently, CaSO4 is frequently supported as a bone graft material for bone regeneration, owing to its biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties. Moreover, hydroxyapatite (Hap) after salinization-step by (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) was incorporated for further enhancing the osteoconductive property of injected hydrogels. All fabricated hydrogels were characterized by SEM, FTIR and XRD analyses. While physiochemical characteristics of hydrogels were assessed through swelling index, hydrolytic degradability and thermal stability measurements. In vitro bio-assessments, e.g., antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and cell adhesion tests using osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) were investigated. Results showed that addition of Hap offered better control of gelation time and formed uniform hydrogels, additionally improved significantly thermal stability, which leads to hindering of swelling index, prolonging hydrolytic degradability rates and significantly enhanced the antimicrobial activity of hydrogel; compared to hydrogel free-Hap. Hap-loaded Col–Alg–CaSO4 hydrogel with the highest concentration of CaSO4 recorded an enrichment of cell viability among all hydrogel samples. Notably, In vitro cell adhesion test showed that MG-63 cells adhered adequately with all hydrogels. The results support the approach of using an injectable Hap-loaded Col/Alg hydrogel cross-linked with CaSO4 as an alter and novel technique to enhance bone tissue regeneration, host–implant integration, quick/simple technique and easier for clinical handling.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank Dr. Med. Ahmed Ghomeimy, Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Basic Research, Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357, Cairo, Egypt, for donation of collagen. This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [GRANT 5981].

Funding

No funding was received for conducting this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Basic Research, Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357, Cairo, Egypt

    Hamsa Ashraf

  2. Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), The British University in Egypt (BUE), Cairo, 11837, Egypt

    Samar A. Salim & Samah A. Loutfy

  3. Bioprocess Development Department (BID), Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt

    Shahira H. EL-Moslamy

  4. Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Samah A. Loutfy

  5. KFU, Saudi Arabia

    Elbadawy A. Kamoun

  6. Department of Chemistry, Collage of Science, King Faisal University, 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

    Elbadawy A. Kamoun

  7. Polymeric Materials Research Dep., Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria, 21934, Egypt

    Elbadawy A. Kamoun

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  1. Hamsa Ashraf
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Contributions

HA was involved in experimental work and wrote the original manuscript; SS wrote the original and revised the manuscript; SE-M conducted the microbiology part; SL conducted the cell culture experiments, and EK helped in supervision, wrote the original and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Elbadawy A. Kamoun.

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No animal model, human trials or In-vivo experiments were carried out in this research. All research studies followed the Helsinki World Medical Association's Declaration: Ethical Medical Research Principles Involving Human Subjects.

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Ashraf, H., Salim, S.A., EL-Moslamy, S.H. et al. An Injectable In Situ Forming Collagen/Alginate/CaSO4 Composite Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering Applications: Optimization, Characterization and In Vitro Assessments. Arab J Sci Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-024-08922-w

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