Chitosan as a Modifying Component of Artificial Scaffold for Human Skin Tissue Engineering

Abstract

We compared the structure and mechanical properties of scaffolds based on pure collagen, pure chitosan, and a mixture of these polymers. The role of the composition and structure of scaffolds in the maintenance of cell functions (proliferation, differentiation, and migration) was demonstrated in two experimental models: homogeneous tissue analogues (scaffold populated by fibroblasts) and complex skin equivalents (fibroblasts and keratinocytes). In contrast to collagen scaffolds, pure chitosan inhibited the growth of fibroblasts that did not form contacts with chitosan fibers, but formed specific cellular conglomerates, spheroids, and lose their ability to synthesize natural extracellular matrix. However, the use of chitosan as an additive stimulated proliferative activity of fibroblasts on collagen, which can be associated with improvement of mechanical properties of the collagen scaffolds. The effectiveness of chitosan as an additional cross-linking agent also manifested in its ability to improve significantly the resistance of collagen scaffolds to fibroblast contraction in comparison with glutaraldehyde treatment. Polymer scaffolds (without cells) accelerated complete healing of skin wounds in vivo irrespective of their composition healing, pure chitosan sponge being most effective. We concluded that the use of chitosan as the scaffold for skin equivalents populated with skin cells is impractical, whereas it can be an effective modifier of polymer scaffolds.

Highly defined 3D printed chitosan scaffolds featuring improved cell growth

“…raffinose) addition as the reason for the improvement in cell adhesion. These data are also in agreement with the more recent work of Romanova et al [35] who suggest that the electrostatic interaction of positively charged deacetylated amino groups of pure chitosan with the cell surface could induce specific reorganization of integrin β1 on the cell membrane that negatively affect both cell adhesion and proliferation: water, that is more retained on the surface of scaffolds prepared with raffinose-containing solution, acts as a shield on those charges, thus, favouring cell adhesion. The reticulated structure also offers a greater surface of contact with respect to scaffolds obtained by casting, which contributes to explain the significant improvement in cell growth observed on 3D printed scaffolds.…”

Development of a chitosan‐based tissue‐engineered renal proximal tubule conduit

“…In addition, pure chitosan could inhibit fibroblast growth and cause fibroblasts to lose their ability to synthesize ECM. 47 In our study, we also noted that the level of vimentin, a type III intermediate filament protein expressed in mesenchymal cells, such as fibroblasts, 18 was lower in HRPTCs cultivated on chitosan. The result indicates that chitosan is helpful in maintaining cell homogeneity during HRTPC cultivation.…”

“…Since serum addition in tissue engineering could increase concerns about immune response and infection, chitosan is an attractive biomaterial because HRPTCs could grow with steady viability and good functional characteristics in a serum‐free condition. In addition, pure chitosan could inhibit fibroblast growth and cause fibroblasts to lose their ability to synthesize ECM . In our study, we also noted that the level of vimentin, a type III intermediate filament protein expressed in mesenchymal cells, such as fibroblasts, was lower in HRPTCs cultivated on chitosan.…”

Chitosan-Coated Collagen Membranes Promote Chondrocyte Adhesion, Growth, and Interleukin-6 Secretion

“…Natural composite scaffolds are usually preferred for clinical application because they can easily promote cellular adhesion, growth and tissue regeneration such as in cartilage repair [33]. It is very advantageous to use natural biomaterials such as collagen and chitosan as a scaffold material in tissue engineering; they are bioactive, biocompatible, and they can allow designing composite membranes that possess mechanical properties similar to those of soft tissues [34,35]. Although it was designed for the dental application, the CollaTape matrix was previously used to design 3-dimensional (3-D) tissue for in vitro [28] and in vivo applications [29].…”