In vitro and in vivo evaluation of chitosan/β-glycerol phosphate composite membrane for guided bone regeneration

Chitosan and β-glycerol phosphate (CS/β-GP) composite, with a thermosensitive sol-gel transition behavior, has been tested as one of the viable materials for barrier membrane fabrication. These studies have provided us with a new concept for a guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane design. The composition, porous structure of the membrane, and the neutral mild preparation procedures make the CS/β-GP membrane a potentially active guide for bone regeneration. In this study, the CS/β-GP composite membrane, with different concentrations of β-GP, was studied to assess their potential utility in GBR application. The initial attachment of the ST2 stromal cell line to the CS/β-GP composite membrane was better than their attachment to the pure CS membrane. The proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of the cells were much higher on the CS/β-GP composite membrane as compared to the pure CS membrane (p < 0.05). A mild inflammatory response was observed around the implanted CS/β-GP composite membrane without any foreign body reaction that continued up to 4 weeks of postsurgery. This primary study indicated that the in vitro and in vivo bioactivities of the CS/β-GP composite membrane fulfilled the requirements for GBR technique.