Blood and cell compatibility of gelatin-carrageenan mixtures cross-linked by glutaraldehyde

Mixtures of gelatin and l-carrageenan cross-linked by glutaraldehyde were prepared and their physical properties and blood and cell compatibility were compared to gelatin as a control material. According to scanning electron microscopic observation of fracture surfaces, the mixtures were composed of dispersed and continuous domains which might be generated by phase separation of carrageenan. The thermal degradation temperature of l-carrageenan in the mixtures rose with increasing gelatin content. The swelling process in the mixtures proceeded slower than in gelatin. Tensile strengths of the mixtures, except that containing 50% l-carrageenan, increased with increased amounts of l-carrageenan in the mixtures. The l-carrageenan contents at the surfaces of the mixtures were generally higher than those admixed originally. Static friction coefficients of the mixtures were lower than that of gelatin. Plasma recalcification times of the mixtures were longer than that of gelatin. Platelet adhesion of the mixtures was lower than that of gelatin, while cell adhesion and growth assays using Chinese hamster ovary cells showed that cell adhesion and growth were not dependent on adding l-carrageenan. It was concluded that blood compatibility of the mixtures increased and cell compatibility did not decrease, compared to gelatin.