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Updated: May 17, 2026

Distinctive Capillary Action by Micro-channels in Bone-like Templates can Enhance Recruitment of Cells for Restoration of Large Bony Defect
Published on: September 11, 2015
Physical properties and in vitro evaluation of collagen-chitosan-calcium phosphate microparticle-based scaffolds for
Monica V Zugravu1, Richard A Smith, Benjamin T Reves
11Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, USA.
Abstract:
Due to limitations of bone autografts and allografts, synthetic bone grafts using osteoconductive biomaterials have been designed. In this study, collagen-chitosan-calcium phosphate microparticle-based scaffolds fused with glycolic acid were compared to their counterparts without collagen in terms of degradation, cytocompatibility, porosity, and Young's modulus. It was found that 26-30% collagen was incorporated and that hydroxyapatite was present. Moreover, there were no differences between control and collagen scaffolds in degradation, cytocompatibility, porosity, and Young's modulus. In general, scaffolds exhibited 23% porosity, 0.6-1.2 MPa Young's modulus, 23% degradation over 4 weeks, and supported a four to seven fold increase in osteoblast cell number over 7 days in culture. Collagen can be incorporated into these bone graft substitute scaffolds, which show an improved degradation profile.
