Bioactive fish scale incorporated chitosan biocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Biologically active natural macromolecules mimic human tissue, making them ideal for scaffold design.
• Fish scale (FS) possesses structural similarity to bone, containing type I collagen and hydroxyapatite.
• Chitosan (CH) is a biocompatible polymer frequently used in tissue engineering scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a novel bio-composite scaffold using fish scale (FS) incorporated into a chitosan (CH) matrix.
• To evaluate the potential of the CH/FS composite scaffold for bone tissue regeneration applications.

Main Methods:

• Fish scales were decellularized and physically disrupted into microparticles.
• CH/FS composite scaffolds were fabricated using ultrasonic homogenization and lyophilization.
• Scaffolds were characterized for physical, chemical, mechanical, and morphological properties.
• In vitro studies assessed cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, and osteogenic activity using SaOS-2 cell lines.

Main Results:

• CH/FS scaffolds exhibited uniform pore structures and high porosity.
• Increasing FS content improved mechanical properties and degradation rates.
• Scaffolds demonstrated no cytotoxicity, with significant cell proliferation observed.
• FS microparticles enhanced osteogenic activity, indicated by increased ALP activity and biomineralization.

Conclusions:

• Fish scale microparticles are cytocompatible and act as effective reinforcement agents in polymeric scaffolds.
• The fabricated CH/FS bio-composite scaffolds show significant potential for bone tissue engineering applications.