Synthesis and characterization of biopolymers of aconitic acid, cinnamic acid and glycerol for tissue engineering applications

Aconitic acid (cis/trans-prop-1-ene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid) can be recovered from molasses after the sucrose  has been removed by crystallization. In addition to what is available as a waste product from the production of biodiesel, glycerol (propane-1,2,3-triol) can also be recovered from the fermentation of pretreated sugarcane bagasse to yield bio-ethanol. Cinnamic acid ((E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoic acid) can be derived from the phenolic compounds recovered from the lignin waste stream generated during the production of bio-ethanol from sugarcane bagasse. In this study, polyesters were synthesized from byproducts derived from sugarcane industry. The resulting polymers were characterized for their potential use in tissue engineering applications. The polymers were prepared using different molar ratios of each reactant at a temperature of 120°C for 5 h. In this study, human adipose derived stem cells were seeded on synthesized polymeric scaffolds, and cell viability was assayed for 7 and 14 days by monitoring the relative metabolic activity (RMA) and total DNA content. The RMA of cells was found to be 85-90% of the positive control, and the total DNA content was 65-80% of the positive control. The results indicate that the synthesized polyesters can be used as scaffolds to support growth of stem cells, and suggest that differentiation into skin, bone or other cell lineages may be possible via addition of appropriate cell growth factors into the culture.