Fabrication of Chitosan Silk-based Tracheal Scaffold Using Freeze-Casting Method

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Tracheal reconstruction faces limitations with current treatments.
• Tissue-engineered trachea offers a promising alternative for long tracheal defects.
• Composite scaffolds combine natural and synthetic materials for improved biocompatibility and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a composite scaffold using chitosan and silk for tracheal tissue engineering.
• To optimize scaffold properties, including mechanical strength, porosity, and biodegradability.
• To evaluate the scaffold's potential for cartilage tissue regeneration and tracheal repair.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of chitosan silk-based scaffolds using varying freezing rates and glutaraldehyde concentrations.
• Characterization of scaffold porosity, swelling, biodegradability, tensile strength, and elastic modulus.
• Assessment of chondrocyte cell proliferation and glycosaminoglycans content on selected scaffolds.

Main Results:

• Scaffold pore size varied significantly with freezing rate (37.8×83.4 to 135.3×372.1 µm).
• Glutaraldehyde concentration had a greater impact on swelling and biodegradability than freezing rate.
• Optimized scaffolds (1-2°C/min freezing rate, 0.8 wt% GA) exhibited human tracheal mechanical properties, supported chondrocyte proliferation, and showed higher glycosaminoglycans content.

Conclusions:

• Freeze-drying created a homogenous porous structure suitable for cartilage tissue regeneration.
• Chitosan silk scaffolds cross-linked with glutaraldehyde are effective for tracheal regeneration.
• The developed scaffold shows potential for cartilage tissue regeneration in tracheal applications.