@article {17461,
	title = {Adhesive nanostructured multilayer films using a bacterial exopolysaccharide for biomedical applications},
	journal = {Journal of Materials Chemistry B},
	volume = {1},
	year = {2013},
	month = {2013-03-05 00:00:00},
	pages = {2367-2374},
	publisher = {RSC Publishing},
	abstract = {<p>Medical adhesives and sealants often require that long-term adhesiveness is achieved. In this work, nanostructured coatings consisting of chitosan and the adhesive bacterial exopolysaccharide levan are fabricated using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. Taking advantage of the electrostatic self-assembly mechanism of LbL, the charges of both chitosan and a phosphonate-derivatized levan (Ph-levan) are measured and the feasibility to construct hybrid films is monitored and confirmed using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The adhesive properties between two identical bonded films with a total of 100 layers are compared to control films in which Ph-levan is replaced by alginate, revealing that the detachment force of the former is about 3 times higher than the control. Scanning electron microscopy of the films surface shows that the surface of Ph-levan films is smooth and homogeneous. Cell adhesion tests were conducted using a L929 cell line. Early cell adhesion is significantly higher in chitosan/Ph-levan films when compared to chitosan/alginate controls. These findings establish levan derivatives as bioinspired ingredients for conceiving medical adhesive devices that allow achieving enhanced mechanical and biological performance.</p>},
	keywords = {adhesives, Biomaterials, extremophilic polymers, layer-by-layer},
	issn = { 2050-750X},
	doi = {10.1039/c3tb20137f},
	url = {http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/TB/C3TB20137F},
	author = {Costa, R. R. and Neto, A. I. and Calgeris, I. and Correia, C. R. and Pinho, A. C. M. and Fonseca, J. and {\"O}ner, E. T. and Mano, J. F.}
}
