Asymmetric composite membranes from chitosan and tricalcium phosphate useful for guided bone regeneration

To fulfill the properties of barrier membranes useful for guided bone tissue regeneration in the treatment of periodontitis, in this study a simple process combining lyophilization with preheating treatment to produce asymmetric barrier membranes from biodegradable chitosan (CS) and functional β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was proposed. By preheating TCP/CS (3:10, w/w) in an acetic acid solution at 40°C, a skin layer that could greatly increase the mechanical properties of the membrane was formed. The asymmetric membrane with a skin layer had a modulus value almost 4-times that of the symmetric porous membrane produced only by lyophilization. This is beneficial for maintaining a secluded space for the bone regeneration, as well as to prevent the invasion of other tissues. The subsequent lyophilization at -20°C then gave the rest of material an interconnected pore structure with high porosity (83.9-90.6%) and suitable pore size (50-150 μm) which could promote the permeability and adhesiveness to bone cells, as demonstrated by the in vitro cell-culture of hFOB1.19 osteoblasts. Furthermore, the TCP particles added to CS could further increase the rigidity and the cell attachment and proliferation of hFOB1.19. The TCP/CS asymmetric composite membrane thus has the potential to be used as the barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration.