Chitosan microparticles based polyelectrolyte complex scaffolds for bone tissue engineering in vitro and effect of...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Materials Chemistry

Background:

• Chitosan-based materials are widely explored for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability.
• Developing porous scaffolds with controlled mechanical properties and cellular interactions is crucial for effective tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize chitosan-based scaffolds incorporating varying amounts of calcium phosphate (CaP).
• To evaluate the mechanical properties (compressive strength and modulus) and in vitro biocompatibility of these scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Chitosan microparticles were combined with chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose solutions.
• Scaffolds were fabricated with 0%, 10%, and 20% CaP content.
• Porosity was introduced using potassium chloride leaching, followed by mechanical testing (ASTM standards) and in vitro cell culture.

Main Results:

• Scaffold compressive strength decreased with increasing CaP content, with the highest strength (27 MPa) observed in 10% CaP scaffolds.
• The 0% CaP scaffolds exhibited the highest wet state compressive strength (0.36 MPa at day 1, 0.40 MPa at day 3).
• In vitro studies revealed excellent cell adhesion and proliferation on the 10% CaP scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-CaP scaffolds can be fabricated with tunable mechanical properties.
• The 10% CaP composition demonstrates superior biocompatibility, supporting cell adhesion and proliferation.
• These findings suggest potential applications for these scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.