Fabrication and evaluation of carboxymethylated diethylaminoethyl cellulose microcarriers as support for cellular applications

•DEAEC was carboxymethylated to produce soluble multifunctional cellulose.•CM-DEAEC microcarriers were produced by ionic crosslinking.•Chemical, thermal and morphological properties of microcarriers were determined.•Cell seeding efficiency, proliferation and adhesion on microcarriers were analyzed.•The CM-DEAEC microcarriers are favorable for cell adhesion and proliferation. Cellulose based microcarriers can be used in biomedical science as supports for cell adhesion and proliferation. However, to facilitate cell attachment to their surface, they require appropriate functional surface charge. Cell function such as adhesion and growth is increased on the modified surfaces with cationic and anionic groups. In this research, diethylaminoethyl cellulose was carboxymethylated to produce soluble multifunctional cellulose with simultaneous presence of cationic and anionic functional groups. Then, carboxymethylated diethylaminoethyl cellulose (CM-DEAEC) were produced by ionic crosslinking. Various instrumental techniques were applied to characterize the microcarriers. Biological tests were also performed to determine cell seeding efficiency, proliferation and attachment on microcarriers. Fabricated CM-DEAEC microcarriers had 1500–1800 μm diameter, +26.0 surface potential, 376% swelling behavior and 233 °C glass transition temperature respectively. The findings showed that CM-DEAEC microcarriers support cellular attachment and proliferation very well and hence are promising materials for cell therapy and tissue engineering applications.