12 - Chitosan/carbon-based nanomaterials as scaffolds for tissue engineering

Abstract

Chitosan is a cationic biopolymer obtained from the partial deacetylation of chitin. Owing to the presence of the primary amine group, it has unique characteristics such as antimicrobial activity, mucoadhesiveness, hemostatic activity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, which make chitosan an ideal material for tissue engineering applications. Similarly, carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs), such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphene oxide, have been considered as a physical analog of extracellular matrix (ECM) components (e.g., collagen fibers) because of their similar dimensions. These CNMs play important roles in reinforcing organic/inorganic artificial scaffolds because of their outstanding mechanical properties, which would be suitable for bone tissue engineering applications. Apart from mechanical strength, CNMs also provide electrical stimulation, which can be used for nerve tissue engineering. As CNMs exhibit antibacterial properties because of the presence of free π electrons and induce cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation into osteo- or neural lineages, they can be ideal materials for wound healing applications. Therefore, chitosan/CNM composite materials have received much attention as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications because of their improved physicochemical and biological properties when compared with pristine chitosan scaffolds. The present chapter focuses and highlights the fabrication and application of chitosan/CNM scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.