Influence of polysaccharide composition on the biocompatibility of pullulan/dextran‐based hydrogels

Abstract The implantation of a biomaterial for tissue engineering requires the presence of a suitable scaffold on which the tissue repair and regeneration will take place. Polymers have been frequently used for that purpose because they show similar properties to that of the natural extracellular matrix. Scaffold properties and biocompatibility are modulated by the composition of the polymers used. In this work four polysaccharide‐based hydrogels (PSH) made of dextran and pullulan were synthesized. Theirin vitroproperties were determined and then testedin vivoin a rat model. As pullulan concentration increased in dextran hydrogels, the glass transition temperature and the maximum modulus decreased.In vitrodegradation studies for 30 days demonstrated no significant degradation of PSH except for 100% pullulan hydrogel.In vivotissue response evaluated 30 days after PSH subcutaneous implantation in rats indicated that all PSH were surrounded by a fibrous capsule. Adding pullulan to dextran induced an increased inflammatory reaction compared to PSH‐D (100% dextran) or PSH‐D₇₅P₂₅(75% dextran)_.Thisin vitroandin vivodata can be used in the design of hydrogels appropriate for tissue engineering applications © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.