@article {15702,
	title = {Gellan gum-based hydrogels for intervertebral disc tissue engineering applications},
	journal = {Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine},
	volume = {5},
	year = {2011},
	month = {2011-06-03 00:00:00},
	pages = {e97-e107},
	publisher = {Wiley},
	abstract = {<p>Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a challenging clinical problem that urgently demands\&nbsp;viable nucleus pulposus (NP) implant materials. The best suited biomaterial for NP regeneration\&nbsp;has yet to be identified, but it is believed that biodegradable hydrogel-based materials are\&nbsp;promising candidates. In this work, we have developed ionic- and photo-crosslinked methacrylated\&nbsp;gellan gum (GG{\textendash}MA) hydrogels to be used in acellular and cellular tissue-engineering strategies\&nbsp;for the regeneration of IVDs. The physicochemical properties of the developed hydrogels were\&nbsp;investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and\&nbsp;differential scanning calorimetry. The swelling ability and degradation rate of hydrogels were\&nbsp;also analysed in phosphate-buffered saline solution at physiological pH for a period of 30 days.\&nbsp;Additionally, the morphology and mechanical properties of the hydrogels were assessed under\&nbsp;a scanning electron microscope and dynamic compression, respectively. An in vitro study was\&nbsp;carried out to screen possible cytotoxicity of the gellan gum-based hydrogels by culturing rat lung\&nbsp;fibroblasts (L929 cells) with hydrogel leachables up to 7 days. The results demonstrated that gellan\&nbsp;gum was successfully methacrylated. We observed that the produced GG{\textendash}MA hydrogels possess\&nbsp;improved mechanical properties and lower water uptake ability and degradation rate as compared\&nbsp;to gellan gum. This work also revealed that GG{\textendash}MA hydrogels are non-cytotoxic in vitro, thus being\&nbsp;promising biomaterials to be used in IVD tissue-engineering strategies.</p>},
	keywords = {Gellan Gum, intervertebral disc},
	issn = {1932-7005},
	doi = {10.1002/term.363},
	author = {Silva-Correia, J. and Oliveira, J. M. and Caridade, S. G. and Oliveira, J. T. and Sousa, R. A. and Mano, J. F. and Reis, R. L.}
}
