Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Exhibit Hall
Citric acid can be obtained from fermentation of molasses while cinnamic acid can be derived from the lignin waste stream obtained after bagasse pretreatment with ammonium hydroxide. In this study, polymerization of citric acid, cinnamic acid and glycerol was carried out at 3 different molar ratios using an acid catalyst at a temperature of 120˚C for 6 h. In vitro degradation of polymeric scaffolds in stromal media was performed and the extracts were tested for their toxicity towards viability of human adipose derived stem cells. Cell viability was studied for 7 days and 14 days by monitoring the relative metabolic activity of stem cells. All the polymers synthesized were found to be non-toxic to the stem cells retaining about 98% of their original weight over a 14-day period. Mechanical tests (compressive and tensile) were performed on the polymeric scaffolds to study their mechanical properties. Young’s modulus for the 3 polymers ranged from 15-75 MPa. These scaffolds can potentially be used for differentiation of stem cells into skin cells and hence can serve as media for healing wounds (skin tissue). Since the precursors, citric acid and cinnamic acid are obtained from byproducts of sugarcane processing, the research conducted can serve as an important approach for value addition to the cane industry.