The Design of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Using Galactosylated Chitosan

A major challenge in hepatic tissue engineering is that liver cells rapidly lose their phenotype in in vitro cell culture systems. For this reason, it is necessary to design biomaterials that can support and enhance hepatic functions. Hepatocytes have a surface protein, called the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R), which interacts with galactose via a specific receptor-ligand interaction. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) were prepared by the layer by layer method, which is based on electrostatic attractions between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs). Anionic (hyaluronic acid) and cationic (chitosan and galactosylated chitosan) PEs were used in the fabrication of detachable, free-standing PEMs. The main focus of this study is the design of PEMs comprised of 50 bilayers of PEs. PEMs that contained galactose functional groups were assembled with either 5 or 10 bilayers of galactosylated chitosan (5 - 10 % of galactosylation). Optical properties, solvent stability and surface topography of the PEMs were measured.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Macromolecular Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Arca, Hale Cigdem

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Rajagopalan, Padmavathy

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Davis, Richey M.
• Edgar, Kevin J.

• ASGP-R
• Chitosan
• Galactose
• Liver models
• Polyelectrolyte multilayers

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05092012-004123

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42578