@article {Quraishi2015,
	title = {{Novel non-cytotoxic alginate{\textendash}lignin hybrid aerogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering}},
	journal = {Journal of Supercritical Fluids},
	volume = {105},
	year = {2015},
	note = {n/a},
	pages = {1{\textendash}8},
	publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},
	abstract = {<p>This paper presents a novel approach toward the production of hybrid alginate{\textendash}lignin aerogels. The key idea of the approach is to employ pressurized carbon dioxide for gelation. Exposure of alginate and lignin aqueous alkali solution containing calcium carbonate to CO2at 4.5~MPa resulted in a hydrogel formation. Various lignin and CaCO3concentrations were studied. Stable hydrogels could be formed up to 2:1 (w/w) alginate-to-lignin ratio (1.5~wt{\%} overall biopolymer concentration). Upon substitution of water with ethanol, gels were dried in supercritical CO2to produce aerogels. Aerogels with bulk density in the range 0.03{\textendash}0.07~g/cm3, surface area up to 564~m2/g and pore volume up to 7.2~cm3/g were obtained. To introduce macroporosity, the CO2induced gelation was supplemented with rapid depressurization (foaming process). Macroporosity up to 31.3~{\textpm}~1.9{\%} with interconnectivity up to 33.2~{\textpm}~8.3{\%} could be achieved at depressurization rate of 3~MPa/min as assessed by micro-CT. Young{\textquoteright}s modulus of alginate{\textendash}lignin aerogels was measured in both dry and wet states. Cell studies revealed that alginate{\textendash}lignin aerogels are non-cytotoxic and feature good cell adhesion making them attractive candidates for a wide range of applications including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.</p>
},
	keywords = {Alginate, biomaterials, Lignin, Scaffolds, Supercritical, tissue engineering},
	isbn = {4042878407},
	issn = {08968446},
	doi = {10.1016/j.supflu.2014.12.026},
	url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2014.12.026},
	author = {Quraishi, Sakeena and Martins, Marta and Barros, Alexandre A. and Gurikov, Pavel and Raman, S. P. and Smirnova, Irina and Duarte, Ana Rita C and Reis, Rui L}
}
