Neural tissue engineering: adrenal chromaffin cell attachment and viability on chitosan scaffolds

This study introduces chitosan-based matrices as cell substrates for bovine chromaffin cell attachment in transplantation procedures. Chitosan ([1-->4] linked 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose), having structural similarity to glycosaminoglycans, was modified using several proteins (collagen, albumin and gelatin) to increase surface area and improve biocompatibility. In vitro, collagen-blended chitosan (CC) matrices were found to attach more readily to chromaffin cells than to gelatin- or albumin-blended matrices. Morphological evidence showed that the chromaffin cells attached to CC substrates integrated well with the hydrogel matrix and survived for at least two weeks, under in vivo culture conditions. The chromaffin cells within chitosan scaffolds also survived for at least two weeks in vitro and after subarachnoid grafting to rats.