Fabrication, characterization and cell cultures on a novel chitosan scaffold

Chitosan has been used as scaffolds with various methods of fabrication including expensive commercial available ones for tissue engineering. The objective of this study is to assemble our novel method of chitosan scaffold fabrication in economical and uncomplicated way that suitable for dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) and stem cells of human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Chitosan scaffolds (2% and 3%) were fabricated in an uncomplicated procedure, including centrifugation and freeze-drying steps. The chitosan scaffolds were compared and the pore size, swelling and degradation were assessed. In addition, the cytocompatibility was assessed of chitosan scaffolds seeded with DPSC and SHED. The pore size of 2% and 3% chitosan scaffolds were similar being 188.71 ± 51.90 μm and 195.30 ± 67.21 μm, respectively. Swelling ratios of 3% chitosan scaffolds were significantly lower than those of 2% chitosan scaffolds. Dimension of scaffolds changed in first 5 minutes. After that, those scaffolds could maintain their dimension. Chitosan scaffolds degraded as from day 7. No differences were found between 2% and 3% chitosan scaffolds. The scaffolds were shown to be non-toxic and to promote DPSCs and SHED growth. The viability of DPSCs and SHED on 2% scaffolds proved to be higher than that of the 3% scaffold group. This study suggested that chitosan scaffolds fabricated with our novel method were suitable for the growth and survival of DPSC and SHED.