Fabrication of Novel Porous Chitosan Matrices as Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Three dimensional (3-D) scaffolds with appropriate mechanical properties play a significant role in scaffold-based tissue engineering. Chitosan, a natural polymer obtained from chitin, which forms a major component of crustacean exoskeleton, is a potential candidate for bone tissue engineering due to its excellent osteocompatibility and biodegradability. The aim of the present study is to develop 3-D porous chitosan scaffolds with mechanical properties in the range of trabecular bone as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Three dimensional scaffolds were prepared by sintering chitosan microspheres. Chitosan microspheres were prepared by ionotropic gelation of chitosan solution using sodium tripolyphosphate. It has been found that the microsphere size increased significantly with the increase of the concentration of chitosan solution. The microspheres were then sintered together using the synergetic effect of solvent and temperature. The compressive moduli of the 3-D sintered matrices were found to be in the mid range of trabecular bone. The osteocompatibility and osteoconductivity of the 3-D matrices were demonstrated by adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast like cells on the matrices after 14 days in culture.
Presented at the Nanoscale Materials Science in Biology and Medicine held in Boston, MA on 28 Nov-2 Dec 2004. Pub. in Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, v845 p187-192, 2005. ISBN 1-55-899-793-8. This article is from ADA434631 Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings. Volume 845, 2005. Nanoscale Materials Science in Biology and Medicine, Held in Boston, MA on 28 November-2 December 2004