Oxidized Cashew Gum Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

In the last few years, several strategies have been proposed to fabricate scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) applications; however, they are based on harsh and time-consuming techniques. The choice for natural polymers such as cashew gum (CG) allows to circumvent the demands of biocompatibility and degradability of TE systems. In this work, CG, a polysaccharide derived from Anacardium occidentale trees, is functionalized with aldehyde groups through periodate oxidation. The resultant oxidized cashew gum (CGO) is mixed with gelatin (GE) to yield a covalently crosslinked hydrogel. CGO/GE sponges are obtained by employing a freeze-drying methodology to the previously obtained hydrogels. The mechanical properties, swelling ability, and porosity of the GE/CGO sponges are tuned by using CGO with different degrees of oxidation. The resultant sponges can maintain high levels of water absorption and recover their initial mechanical properties after cyclic compression. Moreover, these porous and mechanically robust devices can support the adhesion and proliferation of cells, which can envision their application for the regeneration of soft tissues.