muramidase and beta-glycerophosphoric-acid

We report here the development of a chitosan/beta-glycerophosphate(Ch/beta-GP) thermo-sensitive gel to deliver ellagic acid (EA) for cancer treatment. The properties of the Ch/beta-GP gels were characterized regarding chemical structure, surface morphology, and viscoelasticity. In vitro EA release rate from the EA loaded Ch/beta-GP gel and chitosan degradation rate were investigated. The anti-tumor effect of the EA loaded Ch/beta-GP gel on brain cancer cells (human U87 glioblastomas and rat C6 glioma cells) was evaluated by examining cell viability. Cell number and activity were monitored by the MTS assay. The Ch/beta-GP solution formed a heat-induced gel at body temperature, and the gelation temperature and time were affected by the final pH of the Ch/beta-GP solution. The lysozyme increased the EA release rate by 2.5 times higher than that in the absence of lysozyme. Dialyzed chitosan solution with final pH 6.3 greatly reduced the beta-GP needed for gelation, thereby significantly improving the biocompatibility of gel (p < 0.001). The chitosan gels containing 1% (w/v) of ellagic acid significantly reduced viability of U87 cells and C6 cells compared with the chitosan gels at 3 days incubation (p < 0.01, and p < 0.001, respectively).

Topics: Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Chitosan; Drug Delivery Systems; Elastic Modulus; Ellagic Acid; Fibroblasts; Gels; Glycerophosphates; Humans; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Muramidase; Rats; Rheology; Solutions; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Temperature; Time Factors

An injectable hydrogel for chondrocyte delivery was developed by blending chitosan and starch derived from various sources with beta-glycerol phosphate (beta-GP) in the expectation that it would retain a liquid state at room temperature and gel at raised temperatures. Rheological investigation indicated that the system consisting of chitosan derived from crab shell and corn starch at 4:1 by weight ratio (1.53%, w/v of total polymers), and 6.0% (w/v) beta-GP (C/S/GP system) exhibited the sharpest sol-gel transition at 37+/-2 degrees C. The C/S/GP hydrogel was gradually degraded by 67% within 56 days in PBS containing 0.02 mg/ml lysozyme. The presence of starch in the system increased the water absorption of the hydrogel when compared to the system without starch. SEM observation revealed to the interior structure of the C/S/GP hydrogel having interconnected pore structure (average pore size 26.4 microm) whereas the pore size of the hydrogel without starch was 19.8 microm. The hydrogel also showed an ability to maintain chondrocyte phenotype as shown by cell morphology and expression of type II collagen mRNA and protein. In vivo study revealed that the gel was formed rapidly and localized at the injection site.

Topics: Animals; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Chitosan; Chondrocytes; Collagen Type II; Drug Delivery Systems; Glycerophosphates; Hydrogels; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Muramidase; Phase Transition; Porosity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rheology; Starch; Tissue Engineering