Browsing by Author "Raj, R"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    A cholecystic extracellular matrix-based hybrid hydrogel for skeletal muscle tissue engineering
    (Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 2020-05) Raj, R; Sobhan, PK; Kanakarajan, V; Pratheesh, KV; Anilkumar, TV
    Tailoring the properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) based hydrogels by conjugating with synthetic polymers is an emerging method for designing hybridhydrogels for a wide range of tissue engineering applications. In this study, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), a synthetic polymer at variable concentrations (ranging from 0.2 to 2% wt/vol) was conjugated with porcine cholecyst derived ECM (C-ECM) (1% wt/vol) and prepared a biosynthetic hydrogel having enhanced physico-mechanical properties, as required for skeletal muscle tissue engineering. The C-ECM was functionalized with acrylate groups using activated N-hydroxysuccinimide ester-based chemistry and then conjugated with PEGDA via free-radical polymerization in presence of ammonium persulfate and ascorbic acid. The physicochemical characteristics of the hydrogels were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy. Further, the hydrogel properties were studied by evaluating rheology, swelling, gelation time, percentage gel fraction, in vitro degradation, and mechanical strength. Biocompatibility of the gel formulations were assessed using the C2C12 skeletal myoblast cells. The hydrogel formulations containing 0.2 and 0.5% wt/vol of PEGDA were non-cytotoxic and found suitable for growth and proliferation of skeletal myoblasts. The study demonstrated a method for modulating the properties of ECM hydrogels through conjugation with bio-inert polymers for skeletal muscle tissue engineering applications.
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    Preparation and characterization of cholecystic extracellular matrix powder forms for biomedical applications
    (Biomedical physics and engineering express, 2018-07) Raj, R; Anilkumar, TV; Rajan, A
    Biological scaffold materials derived from extracellular matrices (ECM) of mammalian organs and tissues have been extensively used in various clinical applications. Thin sheets of cholecystic extracellular matrix (C-ECM) have been used for tissue engineering applications like graft-assisted wound healing. However, the use of two dimensional forms of any ECM-based biomaterials has inherent limitations with regard to three dimensional shape/form and clinical utility. On the other hand, powder form of ECM provides a great deal more flexibility in terms of delivery of the biomaterial to the target sites. Considering this, two candidate C-ECM powder forms were prepared by conventional freeze milling either with or without salt precipitation and biomaterial properties were evaluated. Biomaterial properties of these powder forms were analyzed by Differential light scattering, Environmental scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. Selected biomolecular contents were estimated in these powder forms in addition to their cytotoxicity potential. The powder form prepared by salt precipitation method resulted in particles with low particle size (344.5 ± 1.61 nm) appropriate for a clinical form. It retained the major biomolecular composition of the C-ECM and did not cause cytotoxicity to L-929 cells. The study identified salt precipitation method for preparing particulate form of C-ECM that retained the original biomolecular composition.
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    Surface Modification of Polypropylene Mesh with a Porcine Cholecystic Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel for Mitigating Host Tissue Reaction
    (. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2021-03) Raj, R; Shenoy, SJ; Mony, MP; Pratheesh, KV; Nair, RS; Geetha, CS; Sobhan, PK; Purnima, C; Anilkumar, TV
    Polypropylene (PP) meshes are widely used for repairing skeletal muscle defects like abdominal hernia despite the chances of undesirable pro-inflammatory tissue reactions that demand revision surgeries in about 45% of cases. Attempts have been made to address the problem by modifying the mesh surface and architecture. These procedures have yielded only incremental improvements in the management of overall postoperative complications, and the search for a clinically viable therapeutic strategy continues. This study deployed a tissue engineering approach for mitigating PP-induced adverse tissue reaction by dip-coating the mesh with a hydrogel formulation of the porcine cholecystic extracellular matrix (CECM). The biomaterial properties of the CECM hydrogel-coated PP (C-PP) meshes were studied and their biocompatibility was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo tests based on ISO standards. Further, the nature of tissue reactions induced by the hydrogel-coated mesh and a commercial PP hernia repair graft was compared in a rat model of partial-thickness abdominal wall defect. Histomorphologically, in comparison with the PP graft-induced tissue reaction, C-PP caused a favorable graft-acceptance response characterized by reduced numbers of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and cytotoxic lymphocytes. Remarkably, the differential inflammatory response of the C-PP graft-assisted healing was associated with a fibrotic reaction predominated by deposition of type I collagen rather than type III collagen, as desired during skeletal muscle repair. It was concluded that the CECM hydrogel is a potential biomaterial for surface modification of polymeric biomedical devices.