Biomedical subjects

Paul Gatenholm

Publications and source records attributed to Paul Gatenholm.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Influence of cultivation conditions on mechanical and morphological properties of bacterial cellulose tubes.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) was deposited in tubular form by fermenting Acetobacter xylinum on top of silicone tubes as an oxygenated support and by blowing different concentrations of oxygen, that is, 21% (air), 35%, 50%, and 100%. Mechanical properties such as burst pressure and tensile properties were evaluated for all tubes. The burst pressure of the tubes increased with an increase in oxygen ratio and reached a top value of 880 mmHg at 100% oxygen. The Young's modulus was approximately 5 MPa for all tubes, irrespective of the oxygen ratio. The elongation to break decreased from 30% to 10-20% when the oxygen ratio was increased. The morphology of the tubes was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). All tubes had an even inner side and a more porous outer side. The cross section indicated that the tubes are composed of layers and that the amount of layers and the yield of cellulose increased with an increase in oxygen ratio. We propose that an internal vessel wall with high density is required for the tube to sustain a certain pressure. An increase in wall thickness by an increase in oxygen ratio might explain the increasing burst pressure with increasing oxygen ratio. The fermentation method used renders it possible to produce branched tubes, tubes with unlimited length and inner diameters. Endothelial cells (ECs) were grown onto the lumen of the tubes. The cells formed a confluent layer after 7 days. The tubes potential as a vascular graft is currently under investigation in a large animal model at the Centre of Vascular Engineering, Sahlgrenska University

Bacteria↗

PubMed2006

Evidence of the presence of 2-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-alpha-l-arabinofuranose side chains in barley husk arabinoxylan.

(Glucurono)arabinoxylans were extracted from barley husks and degraded with endo-beta-xylanase or subjected to periodate oxidation. The released oligosaccharide fragments were separated and isolated on Biogel-P2, and their structures were determined by NMR spectroscopy. The oligosaccharides identified consisted of beta-d-(1-->4)-linked xylopyranosyl residues, of which some were substituted at O-3 with alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl groups or at O-2 with 4-O-methylglucuronic acid. In addition to these substituents, a disaccharide side chain, 2-O-beta-d-xylopyranosyl-alpha-l-arabinofuranose, attached at position O-3 of the main chain, was proved to exist in arabinoxylan from barley husks. The compound was fully characterized with NMR, and all (1)H and (13)C NMR signals were assigned. The arabinose to xylose ratio was low (approximately 0.2) and no 2,3-disubstitution existed. No blocks of substituted xylose residues could be observed along the main chain.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

PubMed2006

In vivo biocompatibility of bacterial cellulose.

The biocompatibility of a scaffold for tissue engineered constructs is essential for the outcome. Bacterial cellulose (BC) consists of completely pure cellulose nanofibrils synthesized by Acetobacter xylinum. BC has high mechanical strength and can be shaped into three-dimensional structures. Cellulose-based materials induce negligible foreign body and inflammatory responses and are considered as biocompatible. The in vivo biocompatibility of BC has never been evaluated systematically. Thus, in the development of tissue engineered constructs with a BC scaffold, it is necessary to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility. BC was implanted subcutaneously in rats for 1, 4, and 12 weeks. The implants were evaluated in aspects of chronic inflammation, foreign body responses, cell ingrowth, and angiogenesis, using histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. There were no macroscopic signs of inflammation around the implants. There were no microscopic signs of inflammation either (i.e., a high number of small cells around the implants or the blood vessels). No fibrotic capsule or giant cells were present. Fibroblasts infiltrated BC, which was well integrated into the host tissue, and did not elicit any chronic inflammatory reactions. The biocompatibility of BC is good and the material has potential to be used as a scaffold in tissue engineering.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Surface-engineered bacterial cellulose as template for crystallization of calcium phosphate.

Bacterial cellulose (BC), produced by Acetobacter xylinum, and cotton linters as reference were surface modified by ozone-induced graft polymerization of acrylic acid and used as a template for crystallization of calcium phosphate. The grafting was verified using attenuated total reflection-infrared radiation (ATR-IR) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). ATR-IR revealed an additional absorption band at 1700 cm(-1), corresponding to the carbonyl group in polyacrylic acid. ESCA figures show, apart from the characteristic peaks for cellulose, additional peaks at 285 eV and 289 eV that correspond to groups in acrylic acid. The grafting yield is higher on cotton linters compared with BC, which most likely has to do with differences in crystallinity and reactivity of the different cellulose materials. No morphology difference directly caused by grafting could be seen with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which might indicate that acrylic acid was grafted as a thin film on the surface of the cellulose micro fibrils. Calcium phosphate was formed on the surface-modified cellulose by first pre-soaking the materials in a saturated Ca(OH)2 and later in simulated body fluid (SBF). The atomic ratio of calcium phosphate was determined by ESCA to be about 1.5 for the different materials. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to map and verify that the crystals were calcium phosphate. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) was also used to verify the presence of calcium phosphate complex onto BC. SEM images showed the difference in dimension, distribution and morphology of the crystals depending on the materials. Smaller and a greater number of crystals were obtained on the surface-modified BC and larger and fewer crystals on surface-modified cotton linters. Structural and grafting differences between the celluloses may lead to differences in nucleation sites and possibly differences in the morphology of the Ca-P crystals. The BC-calcium phosphate composite is expected to be useful as a scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMed2005

Mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose and interactions with smooth muscle cells.

Tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBV) represent an attractive approach for overcoming reconstructive problems associated with vascular diseases by providing small calibre vascular grafts. The aim of this study has been to evaluate a novel biomaterial, bacterial cellulose (BC), as a potential scaffold for TEBV. The morphology of the BC pellicle grown in static culture was investigated with SEM. Mechanical properties of BC were measured in Krebs solution and compared with the properties of porcine carotid arteries and ePTFE grafts. Attachment, proliferation and ingrowth of human smooth muscle cells (SMC) on the BC were analysed in vitro. The BC pellicle had an asymmetric structure composed of a fine network of nanofibrils similar to a collagen network. The shape of the stress-strain response of BC is reminiscent of the stress-strain response of the carotid artery, most probably due to the similarity in architecture of the nanofibrill networks. SMC adhered to and proliferated on the BC pellicle; an ingrowth of up to 40 microm was seen after 2 weeks of culture. BC exhibit attractive properties for use in future TEBV.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

PubMed2005

Improvement of the wetting and absorption properties of lignocellulosic fibers by means of gas phase ozonation.

Gas phase ozonation was done on sheets made from chemical thermomechanical pulp in order to improve the wetting properties of the lignocellulosic fibers. The degree of modification was varied by letting the reaction continue for different lengths of time, ranging from 1 to 60 min. Changes in the chemistry of the fibers after ozone exposure were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The evolution of a carbonyl signal and the decrease of aromatic absorption over time was observed with FT-IR spectroscopy. The carbonyl peak grew in intensity as the reaction continued throughout the whole range of treatment times. The ESCA showed that carbonyl and carboxyl functionalities were introduced after 10 min of ozone exposure and that the intensity of the peak from the aliphatic and aromatic carbons decreased. However, an ozone treatment longer than 15 min did not affect the chemical surface composition, as analyzed by ESCA. The single-fiber contact angle with water, measured using a Cahn balance, decreased with extended ozonation. Measuring the time required for the sheet to absorb a water droplet with a high speed camera showed that even a very short ozone exposure (1 min) dramatically affected the absorption behavior. The rate of absorption dramatically increased after as little as 1 min of ozone exposure. This improvement in absorption rate was most likely due to the formation of low molecular weight degradation products, acting as wetting agents, created during the ozonation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Fouling-release coatings prepared from alpha,omega-dihydroxypoly(dimethylsiloxane) cross-linked with (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane.

Surface properties of pristine and water-aged polymeric films made of alpha,omega-dihydroxypoly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) cross-linked with (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane (FTEOS17) or tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were investigated. The FTEOS17-cured coatings showed stable advancing and receding contact angles over a period of 3 months of water exposure, compared to a 70 degrees decrease in receding contact angle for the TEOS-cured coatings. After immersion in water, hydroxyl groups were detected on the TEOS-cured coatings with attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT/IR). Tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) on pristine FTEOS17-cured coatings showed surfaces topologies ranging from smooth and featureless to topologically complex, depending on FTEOS17 concentration. The fluorinated coatings showed a stable surface morphology after water immersion, which we believe is due to the formation of a fluorinated siliceous phase that prevented the surface reconstruction, water penetration, and hydrolysis. The smooth pristine TEOS-cured coatings showed an increased roughness with cracks and erosion pits present on the surface after water immersion.

Cross-Linking Reagents↗

PubMed2003

Coating modulus and barnacle bioadhesion.

The effect of coating modulus on the strength of pseudobarnacle adhesive bonding was investigated. A radical polymerized poly(butylmethacrylate) coating cross-linked with allylmethacrylate was used as a model coating. The coating Tg was determined to be 18 degrees C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dynamic contact angle measurements (DCA) at different temperatures indicated that the surface chemistry was not significantly affected in the range investigated (5-50 degrees C). However, an increased noise level in the force vs. displacement curves indicated an increased molecular mobility with a fast reorganization of hydrophilic ester groups during the measurement. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as a function of temperature revealed a large drop in storage modulus (G') from 20 degrees C to 70 degrees C, as expected. A good correlation between the coating storage modulus and the detachment stress of pseudobarnacles was observed even though energy dissipation during the analysis was observed. The decreased adhesion might be a result of the increased molecular flexibility as determined by DCA and DMA at increased temperature. The increased molecular mobility might increase the tendency for interfacial slip, which ultimately results in decreased adhesion strength.

Adhesiveness↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surface modification of cellulose fibers: towards wood composites by biomimetics.

A biomimetic approach was taken for studying the adsorption of a model copolymer (pullulan abietate, DS 0.027), representing the lignin-carbohydrate complex, to a model surface for cellulose fibers (Langmuir-Blodgett thin films of regenerated cellulose). Adsorption results were assayed using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Rapid, spontaneous, and desorption-resistant surface modification resulted. This effort is viewed as a critical first step towards the permanent surface modification of cellulose fibers with a layer of molecules amenable to either enzymatic crosslinking for improved wood composites or thermoplastic consolidation.

Biomimetics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Crystallinity and morphology in films of starch, amylose and amylopectin blends.

Films of potato starch, amylose, and amylopectin and blends thereof were prepared by solution casting and examined using X-ray diffraction, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Amylose films had a relative crystallinity of about 30% whereas amylopectin films were entirely amorphous. Blending of amylose and amylopectin resulted in films with a considerably higher degree of crystallinity than could be predicted. This is explained by cocrystallization between amylose and amylopectin and possibly by crystallization of amylopectin. The crystallized material gave rise to an endotherm detected with differential scanning calorimetry. The enthalpy and peak temperature of the transition also increased as the water content decreased. When the amylose proportion in the blends was low, separate phases of amylose and amylopectin were observed by light microscopy. At higher amylose proportions, however, the phase separation was apparently prevented by amylose gelation and the formation of a continuous amylose network. The amylose network in the films, observed with transmission electron microscopy, consisted of stiff strands and open pores and became less visible as the amylose proportion decreased. The water content of the films was dependent on the microstructure and the crystallinity.

Amylopectin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surface composition and morphology of starch, amylose, and amylopectin films.

The surfaces of solution-cast films of starch, amylose, and amylopectin were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The surface topography visualized by SEM showed that amylopectin films were very smooth whereas amylose and starch films were rougher. It appears that crystallinity or phase separation in the bulk of the film affects the surface topography. AFM showed that the outmost surfaces of all films were covered with small protrusions, 15-35 nm wide and 1-4 nm high. Studies with ESCA revealed the presence of 3-8% nitrogen on the surfaces. ToF-SIMS indicated that the nitrogen originates from protein because ionic fragments from amino acids and the peptide backbone were found. Extracts from the top surface layer of the starch film showed protein bands in gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) around 60 kDa, which is in the same molecular weight range as the biosynthesizing enzyme GBSS I present in starch granules. The proteins apparently phase separated during film formation and migrated to the surface, resulting in an extensive enrichment of proteins in the film surface, where about 8% of the protein is present in the top 0.01% of the film. We believe that the protrusions observed with AFM could be one or a few proteins aggregated side by side.

Amylopectin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Heterogeneous acylation of flax fibers. Reaction kinetics and surface properties.

Flax fibers composed mainly of cellulose were subjected to heterogeneous valerylation reaction. The progress of the chemical modification was assessed by transmission FTIR. The heterogeneous esterification reaction followed first-order kinetics, and a plateau was reached already after 30 min. The intensity of the FTIR hydroxyl absorption band (nu = 3400 cm(-1)) did not appreciably decrease during the acylation reaction, showing that only a small fraction of the fiber hydroxyls was involved in the reaction. The degree of valerate substitution (DS) at the fiber surface (50 A thick layer) was evaluated by means of ESCA. Surface valerylation increased with reaction time and leveled off at DS around 1 after 30 min, in agreement with the FTIR data. The chemically modified fibers maintain the Cellulose I crystal structure and the original crystallinity degree up to the longest reaction time investigated (180 min). Dynamic contact angle measurements showed that surface hydrophobicity as indicated by advancing contact angle rapidly increased upon valerylation reaching a plateau after about 10 min. Chemical modification does not appreciably alter fiber thermal stability (by TGA) and morphology (by SEM).

Acylation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Material properties of plasticized hardwood xylans for potential application as oxygen barrier films.

Free films based on glucuronoxylan isolated from aspen wood were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions and drying in a controlled environment. Addition of xylitol or sorbitol facilitated film formation and thus examination of the material properties of these films. The mechanical properties of the films were evaluated using tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis in a controlled ambient relative humidity. The strain at break increased, and the stress at break and Young's modulus of the films decreased with increasing amounts of xylitol and sorbitol due to plasticization. At high amount of plasticizer, it was found that films with xylitol gave lower extensibility. Wide-angle X-ray scattering analysis showed that xylitol crystallized in a distinct phase, which we believe contributes to the more brittle behavior of these films. The effect of the plasticizers on the glass transition temperature was determined using dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. An increased amount of plasticizer shifted the glass transition to lower temperatures. The effect of moisture on the properties of plasticized films was investigated using water vapor sorption isotherms and by humidity scans in dynamic mechanical analysis. Sorption isotherms showed a transition from type II to type III when adding plasticizer. The films showed low oxygen permeability and thus have a potential application in food packaging.

Biocompatible Materials↗