Multilayer films by blending heparin with semisynthetic cellulose sulfates: Physico-chemical characterization and cell responses

Here, we report fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayers by blending a natural glycosaminoglycan (heparin) with semisynthetic cellulose sulfates as polyanions paired with polycation chitosan. Two types of polyanionic blends were prepared by mixing heparin with either cellulose sulfates (CS) of high (CS2.6) or intermediate (CS1.6) sulfation degree in equal mass ratios. Multilayer growth was monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quartz crystal micro balance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) where as surface wettability was measured by water contact angle measurements (WCA). Both SPR and QCM-D showed differences in biomolecular mass adsorption and dissipation values for different multilayers and also helped in estimating the hydration levels of layers. WCA indicated arrangement of polyanion and polycation layers within the multilayer systems, weather distinct layers, or more intermingled multilayers were established. Overall physico-chemical characterization data suggested a dominating incorporation of heparin over CS in blend multilayer systems. Biological interactions of these blend multilayers investigated with C2C12 cells also indicated a leading contribution of heparin in the blend systems. This current study suggested that heparin was preferentially incorporated over CS that are highly sulfated and points towards the dominance of carboxylic groups over sulfate groups in interacting with amino groups of chitosan.