Synthesis and characterization of collagen/hyaluronan/chitosan composite sponges for potential biomedical applications

Cells, scaffolds and growth factors are three main components of a tissue-engineered construct. Collagen type 1, a major protein of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in mammals, is a suitable scaffold material for regeneration. Another important constituent of the ECM, hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan, HA), has been used for medical purposes due to its hydrogel properties and biodegradability. Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide comprised of beta 1- to beta 4-linked D-glucosamine residues, and its potential as a biomaterial is based on its cationic nature and high charge density in solution. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of scaffolds composed of different ratios of type I comb collagen and chitosan with added HA in order to obtain the optimum conditions for the manufacture of collagen-hyaluronan-chitosan (Col-HA-Ch; comprising collagen, HA and chitosan mixed in different ratios: 10:1:0, Col10HACh0; 9:1:1, Col9-HACh1; 8:1:2, Col8HACh2; 7:1:3, Col7HACh3; 6:1:4, Col6HACh4; and 5:1:5, Col5HACh5) composite porous scaffolds. Microstructural observation of the composite scaffolds was performed using scanning electron microscopy. The mean pore diameters ranged from 120 to 182 mu m and decreased as the chitosan composition increased. All scaffolds showed high pore interconnectivity. Swelling ratio measurements showed that all specimens could bind 35- to 40-fold of physiological fluid and still maintain their form and stability. For tensile strength, the optimal ratio of collagen and chitosan was 9:1. Thermal stability was investigated using a differential scanning calorimeter and showed that Col5HACh5 and Col6HACh4 were significantly more stable than the other groups. In enzymatic sensitivity, a steady increase in the biostability of the scaffolds was achieved as the chitosan concentration was increased. In biocompatibility testing, the proliferation of the fibroblasts cultured in Co-HA-Ch tri-copolymer scaffolds was high. Overall, we observed the 9: 1:1 mixing ratio of collagen, hyaluronan and chitosan to be optimal for the manufacture of complex scaffolds. Furthermore, Col-HA-Ch tri-polymer scaffolds, especially Col9HACh1, could be developed as a suitable scaffold material for tissue engineering applications. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. All rights reserved.