Cryo-copolymerization preparation of dextran-hyaluronate based supermacroporous cryogel scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Dextran-hyaluronate （Dex-HA） based supermacroporous cryogel scaffolds for soft tissue engineering were prepared by free radical cryo-copolymerization of aqueous solutions containing the dextran methacrylate （Dex-MA） and hyaluronate methacrylate （HA-MA） at various macromonomer concentrations under the freezing condition. It was observed that the suitable total concen- tration of macromonomers for the preparation of Dex-HA cryogel scaffold with satisfied properties was 5% （w/w） at the HA-MA concentration of 1% （w/v）, which was then used to produce the test scaffold. The obtained cryogel scaffold with 5% （w/w） macromonomer solution had high water permeability （5.1 × 10 ^-2m2） and high porosity （92.4%）. The pore diameter examined by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） was in a broad range of 50-135 um with the mean pore diameter of 91 um. Furthermore, the cryogel scaffold also had good elastic nature with the elastic modulus of 17.47±1.44 kPa. The culture of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte within the scaffold was investigated and observed by SEM. Cells clustered on the pore walls and grew inside the scaffold indicating the Dex-HA cryogel scaffold could be a promising porous biomaterial for applications in tissue engineering.

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers for solid-phase extraction of （-）-epigallocatechin gallate from toothpaste

Surface molecularly imprinted polymers （SMIPs） have been synthesized to selectively determine （-）-epigallocatechin gallate in aqueous media. SMIPs were prepared using a surface grafting copolymerization method on a functionalized silica gel modified with β-cyclodextrin and vinyl groups. The morphology and composition of the SMIPs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the molecular binding capacity, recognition properties and selectivity of the SMIPs were evaluated. The imprinted polymers were found to have a highly specific recognition and binding capacity for aqueous media which is （-）-epigallocatechin gallate in the result of the hydrophobic properties of the β-cyclodextrin and the hydrogen-bonding interactions of methacrylic acid. The SMIPs were successfully employed as solid-phase extraction adsor- bents prior to the HPLC determination of （-）-epigallocatechin gallate in toothpaste. The HPLC analysis had a linear dynamic range of 0.5-50.0 μg·mL^-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and the recoveries ranged from 89.4% to 97.0% with relative standard deviations less than 4.8%. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.17 and 0.33 μg·mL^-1, respectively. The method provides a promising approach for the preparation of selective materials for the purification and determination of complex samples.