Cell adhesion and accelerated detachment on the surface of temperature-sensitive chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

A series of temperature-sensitive poly(NIPAAm-co-CSA) hydrogels were synthesized by the copolymerization of acrylic acid-derivatized Chitosan (CSA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) in aqueous solution. Their swelling properties and L929 cell adhesion and detachment behaviors were studied. It was found that poly(NIPAAm-co-CSA) hydrogels were temperature-sensitive associated with the roles of the component PNIPAAm. Most significantly, poly(NIPAAm-co-CSA) hydrogels exhibited simultaneously good swelling properties. The investigation of L929 cell adhesion and detachment of poly(NIPAAm-co-CSA) hydrogels indicated the cell adhesion and spreading was higher on the surface of poly(NIPAAm-co-CSA) hydrogels than that of PNIPAAm hydrogel at 37A degrees C due to the incorporation of CS, which having excellent cell affinity. Poly(NIPAAm-co-CSA) hydrogels showed more rapid detachment of cell sheet compared to PNIPAAm hydrogel because of the highly hydrophilic and hygroscopic nature of CS chains when reducing the culture temperature from 37A degrees C to 20A degrees C.