Cellulose-based click-scaffolds: Synthesis, characterization and biofabrications

In this work, azide and alkyne pendant functional groups were introduced onto ethyl cellulose (EC) and β-cyclodextrin respectively in order to demonstrate the ability of scaffold formation by click chemistry. Technically, Azido-ethyl cellulose (D.S.Azido 0.19) and 2, 3, 6-O- propargylated β -cyclodextrin were synthesized and characterized as click-triggered candidates. The click-gel scaffold was obtained by mixing the two novel candidates in the presence of copper catalyst. Azido-EC was considered to produce clickable electrospun fibers blended with EC (290-620 nm) at 20 kV in order to functionalized EC substrate bearing azide groups to be amenable towards immobilization of an alkyne-terminated bio-molecules. The biocompatibility assay of the prepared click-triggered candidates showed very high level of viability in the human skin fibroblast cells (HFB4) at concentration 100 μg/ml.