How to build an adapted and bioactive cell microenvironment? A chemical interaction study of the structure of Ca-alginate matrices and their repercussion on confined cells

Alginates are increasingly being used as medical materials (matrices for tissue regeneration, surgical sponges, hemostatic bandages, microbial and cell encapsulation, artificial bacterial biofilms, etc.). The constitution of alginate gel networks is a complex phenomenon. A great number of different kinds of polysaccharidic frameworks can come to existence depending on the conditions used for their attainment. For instance, the degree of heterogeneity and porosity of Ca‐alginate beads rely on this molecular organization. The formation of structural irregularities (superficial crust, cavities, shafts, dense or light gel frameworks, ordered or chaotic domains, etc.) within the alginate gel beads are inherent to this skeletal design. Several specific staining molecules (e.g. calcon carboxylic acid, murexide, methylene blue) that are negatively or positively charged interact with the gel network. These molecules allowed us to reveal a great variety of chemical interactions shown by the pattern coloration of the internal structure of the gel. The results observed are very different for the several matrices analyzed, which could explain to a great extent the singular behavior that cells confined in these kind of matrices exhibit. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 376–388, 2003