The influence of molecular weight of chitosan on the physical and biological properties of collagen/chitosan scaffolds

Abstract

Biopolymer blends between collagen and chitosan have the potential to produce cell scaffolds with biocompatible properties. However, the relationship between the molecular weight of chitosan and its effect on physical and biological properties of collagen/chitosan scaffolds has not been elucidated yet. Porous scaffolds were fabricated by freeze-drying the solution of collagen and chitosan, followed by cross-linking by dehydrothermal treatment. Various types of scaffolds were prepared using chitosan with various molecular weights and blending ratios. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy proved that collagen and chitosan scaffolds at all blending ratios contained mainly electrostatic interactions at the molecular level. The compressive modulus decreased with increasing the concentration of chitosan. Equilibrium swelling ratios of approximately 6-8, determined in phosphate-buffered saline at physiological pH (7.4), were found in case of collagen-dominated scaffolds. The lysozyme biodegradation test demonstrated that the presence of chitosan, especially the high-molecular-weight species, could significantly prolong the biodegradation of collagen/chitosan scaffolds. In vitro culture of L929 mouse connective tissue fibroblast evidenced that low-molecular-weight chitosan was more effective to promote and accelerate cell proliferation, particularly for scaffolds containing 30 wt% chitosan. The results elucidated that the blends of collagen with low-molecular-weight chitosan have a high potential to be applied as new materials for skin-tissue engineering.

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

“…Moreover, combination of rigidity of the chitosan molecules and elasticity of collagen changes general physical properties of the material and provides favorable conditions for cell adhesion and proliferation. Our data on skin fi broblasts are consistent with previous reports [28] demonstrating increased proliferative activity of L929 fi broblasts on a series of chitosan-collagen scaffolds cross-linked by dehydrothermal treatment.…”

Effects of carboxymethyl-chitosan on wound healing in vivo and in vitro

“…L-CMC, with the lowest molecular weight in all samples, had the best accelerative effect on fibroblast proliferation. These results were consistent with previous reports (Wang et al, 2007;Tangsadthakun et al, 2007).…”

Composite Chitosan-Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

“…Previous research also revealed that chitosan has hemostatic and cholesterol lowering properties [8]. Furthermore the material properties of chitosan can be regulated by varying the molecular weight and degree of deacetylation (DDA) [9][10][11]. Combining chitosan with calcium phosphate, a calcium salt found in the inorganic phase of bone mainly as hydroxyapatite (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 ), improves osteoconductivity, strength, and hardness of the scaffold [12].…”