A facile method of synthesis of bio-benign molecular brushes based on chitosan (CHI) backbone and poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PLA) has been developed recently. The grafting of hydrophobic PLA component occurs from hydroxyl groups of CHI in the bi-phasic ring-opening polymerization. An important feature of the proposed method is acid/base organocatalysis that results in the metal-free product - MB. The second step consists in the grafting of secondary polymer poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PNVP) that results in the hybrid molecular brush (HMB). Such bio-benign materials have supreme film- and fiber forming properties. MB demonstrates very good adhesion to human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). HDF cells deposited on films, fibers, and brushes of CHI-graft-PLA maintain their natural bipolar, spindle-shaped morphology. The cells produce more collagen I compared to neat PLA and neat CHI as revealed by collagen-specific test on day 1 and 2. Addition of the secondary graft copolymer PNVP allows tuning the surface properties of films and polymer brushes. Depending on the state of HMB surface (hydrophobic, PLA or hydrophilic, PNVP), the HDF cells demonstrate different adhesion behavior. Therefore, the described method of synthesis of MB and HMB opens a venue towards highly adhesive scaffolds for wound healing of the human skin.

Synthesis and cell attachment study of hybrid molecular brushes with chitosan backbone as potential materials for wound healing

255th National Meeting (2018)

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