To fabricate the DCT hydrogel, oxidized dextran and N-carboxyethyl chitosan (Endomedix Inc, Montclaire, NJ) were synthesized as described previously [27 (link)]. Aqueous solutions of 20% teleostean (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), 3% N-carboxyethyl chitosan, and 7.5% oxidized dextran were mixed at a ratio of 1:1:2. To render the hydrogel radiopaque and facilitate non-invasive assessment using x-ray fluoroscopy and microcomputed tomography (μCT), we adapted a technique previously developed for electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds where zirconia nanoparticles were mixed with aqueous PCL prior to electrospinning [34 (link)]. Zirconia nanoparticles (30 wt%, Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) were added to the aqueous teleostean prior to mixing of the three gel components.
Gullbrand S.E., Schaer T.P., Agarwal P., Bendigo J.R., Dodge G.R., Chen W., Elliott D.M., Mauck R.L., Malhotra N.R, & Smith L.J. (2017). Translation of an Injectable Triple-Interpenetrating-Network Hydrogel for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration in a Goat Model. Acta biomaterialia, 60, 201-209.
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