@article {17657, title = {Nanostructured Hollow Tubes Based on Chitosan and Alginate Multilayers}, journal = {Advanced Healthcare Materials}, year = {2013}, month = {2013-08-26 00:00:00}, publisher = {WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH \& Co}, abstract = {

The design and production of structures with nanometer-sized polymer fi lms
based on layer-by-layer (LbL) are of particular interest for tissue engineering
since they allow the precise control of physical and biochemical cues of
implantable devices. In this work, a method is developed for the preparation
of nanostructured hollow multilayers tubes combining LbL and template
leaching. The aim is to produce hollow tubes based on polyelectrolyte multilayer fi lms with tuned physical-chemical properties and study their effects
on cell behavior. The fi nal tubular structures are characterized by differential
scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR),
microscopy, swelling, and mechanical tests, including dynamic mechanical
analysis (DMA) in physiological simulated conditions. It is found that more
robust fi lms could be produced upon chemical cross-linking with genipin.
In particular, the mechanical properties confi rms the viscoelastic properties
and a storage and young modulus about two times higher. The water uptake
decreases from about 390\% to 110\% after the cross-linking. The biological
performance is assessed in terms of cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation.
The results obtained with the cross-linked tubes demonstrate that these are
more suitable structures for cell adhesion and spreading. The results suggest the potential of these structures to boost the development of innovative
tubular structures for tissue engineering approaches.

}, keywords = {ALGINATE, Chitosan, layer-by-layer, Tissue engineering, tubular structures}, doi = {10.1002/adhm.201300265}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.201300265/abstract}, author = {Silva, J. M. and Duarte, A. R. C. and Cust{\'o}dio, C. A. and Sher, P. and Neto, A. I. and Pinho, A. C. M. and Fonseca, J. and Reis, R. L. and Mano, J. F.} }