Macroporous Hyaluronic Acid/Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complex-Based Hydrogels Loaded with Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation

The aim of the study was to fabricate and characterize composite macroporous hydrogels based on a hyaluronic acid/chitosan (Hyal/Ch) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) loaded with homogeneously distributed hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp), evaluate them in vitro using mouse fibroblasts (L929), osteoblast-like cells (HOS) human mesenchymal stromal (hMSC). Hydrogel morphology as function nanoparticle content studied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confocal laser (CLSM). mean pore size Hyal/Ch hydrogel 204 ± 25 ?m. entrapment nHAp (1 5 wt. %) into led decrease (94 2 77 9 ?m, relatively). Swelling ratio weight loss various aqueous media were found increase an enhancement medium ionic strength. Cell localization within by CLSM. viability depended upon evaluated MTT-assay after 7 days cultivation hydrogels. An loading range 1–10 % resulted cell growth proliferation for all Maximum obtained case Hyal/Ch/nHAp-10 sample (10 nHAp), while minimal number Hyal/Ch/nHAp-1 nHAp). Thus, proposed simple original technique design PEC could be promising tissue engineering, particular bone repair.