Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Arca, Hale Cigdem
Author's Email Address	arca@vt.edu
URN	etd-05092012-004123
Title	The Design of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Using Galactosylated Chitosan
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Rajagopalan, Padmavathy Committee Chair Davis, Richey M. Committee Member Edgar, Kevin J. Committee Member
Keywords	ASGP-R Chitosan Galactose Liver models Polyelectrolyte multilayers
Date of Defense	2012-04-26
Availability	restricted
Abstract A major challenge in hepatic tissue engineering is that liver cells rapidly lose their phenotype in in vitro cell culture systems. For this reason, it is necessary to design biomaterials that can support and enhance hepatic functions. Hepatocytes have a surface protein, called the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R), which interacts with galactose via a specific receptor-ligand interaction. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) were prepared by the layer by layer method, which is based on electrostatic attractions between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PEs). Anionic (hyaluronic acid) and cationic (chitosan and galactosylated chitosan) PEs were used in the fabrication of detachable, free-standing PEMs. The main focus of this study is the design of PEMs comprised of 50 bilayers of PEs. PEMs that contained galactose functional groups were assembled with either 5 or 10 bilayers of galactosylated chitosan (5 - 10 % of galactosylation). Optical properties, solvent stability and surface topography of the PEMs were measured.
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