Development of New Chitosan-Based Complex with Bioactive Molecules for Regenerative Medicine.

Background/Objectives: The development of new materials incorporating bioactive molecules for tissue regeneration is a growing area of interest. The objective of this study was to develop a new complex specifically designed for bone and skin tissue engineering, combining chitosan, ascorbic acid-2-magnesium phosphate (ASAP), and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Methods: Chitosan and the complexes chitosan/ASAP and chitosan/ASAP/β-TCP were prepared in membrane form, macerated to a particulate format, and then subjected to characterization through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Cell viability was evaluated through a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI) staining in stem cells obtained from deciduous teeth. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey's test. Results: The FTIR results indicated the characteristic bands in the chitosan group and the complexation between chitosan, ASAP, and β-TCP. Microscopic characterization revealed a polydisperse distribution of micrometric particles. Zeta potential measurements demonstrated a reduction in surface charge upon the addition of ASAP and β-TCP to the chitosan matrix. TGA and DSC analyses further indicated complexation between the three components and the successful formation of a cross-linked structure in the chitosan matrix. Stem cells cultured with the particulate biomaterials demonstrated their biocompatibility. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in cell viability for the chitosan/ASAP and chitosan/ASAP/β-TCP groups compared to the chitosan control. Conclusions: Therefore, the chitosan/ASAP complex demonstrated potential for skin regeneration, while the chitosan/ASAP/β-TCP formulation showed promise as a biomaterial for bone regeneration due to the presence of β-tricalcium phosphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]