Synthesis, characterization and bioactivity studies of novel β-chitin scaffolds for tissue-engineering applications

Chitin is a biopolymer and it is non-toxic, biodegradable and biocompatible. Chitin has many potential industrial applications because of its abundance, biodegradability, non-toxicity, chemical inertness. beta-chitin scaffolds were prepared by using saturated calcium chloride alcoholic solution (CaCl2.6H(2)O/EtOH) and then followed by dialysis with lyophilization. The prepared P-chitin scaffolds were characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric (TGA). The preliminary bioactivity studies of beta-chitin scaffolds were studied by using simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for 7,14 and 21 days. We also immersed the beta-chitin scaffolds in saturated aqueous CaCl2 and Na2HPO4 solution over 12 h. After 7,14 and 21 days, the scaffolds were characterized by SEM and FT-IR studies. The SEM studies showed that there is a calcium phosphate layer in the surface as well as in the cross-section of beta-chitin scaffolds. It seems that the beta-chitin scaffolds are useful in the tissue-engineering field. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.