Development and biocompatibility evaluation of biodegradable bacterial cellulose as a novel peripheral nerve scaffold

Peripheral nerve injury is a serious medical problem and severely affects normal life of patient. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is considered as a novel promising biomaterial for tissue engineering, but the poor biodegradability limits its application. In this study, biodegradable bacterial cellulose scaffolds were prepared with different oxidation degrees (O.Ds.) using sodium periodate, evaluating their potential application in peripheral nerve repair. The chemical structure and surface morphology of the oxidized bacterial cellulose (OBC) scaffolds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Wide angle X-ray diffraction, and Scanning electron microscope. The porosity, mechanical properties, and degradation behavior of the OBC series scaffolds were extensively examined. Cellular viability and blood compatibility of OBC scaffolds were studied by MTT assay and hemolytic test using Schwann cells (SCs) and red blood cells (RBCs), respectively. The results demonstrated that the biodegradability of OBC scaffolds was improved significantly. OBC scaffolds with lower O.Ds. displayed high porosity with interconnected pores, suitable mechanical property, and biodegradability for peripheral nerve repair. In vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis test analysis indicated that OBC_0.05/3 scaffold is cellular and blood compatible, demonstrating its potential application as a good candidate for peripheral nerve repair. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1288-1298, 2018.