7 - Chitosan-based scaffolds for growth factor delivery

Abstract

Spatiotemporal presentation and optimum delivery of single as well as multiple growth factors is evidently one of the major challenges in achieving desired biological effect during tissue regeneration. Chitosan, a biomaterial obtained from natural resources, has been widely investigated and shows great potential for delivering growth factors and other biomolecules. The feasibility of fabricating chitosan biomaterials as hydrogels, porous matrices, particulate and fibrous matrices as scaffolds for tissue regeneration has been demonstrated. The presence of amino and hydroxyl functional groups in chitosan has been shown to play a significant role in modulating growth factor release from these matrices. The positive charge arising from the protonation of amino groups in chitosan chain has been shown to promote electrostatic interactions with negatively charged biomolecules, thereby achieving improved control over the release of the encapsulated protein. The covalent immobilization of bioactive growth factors using the functional groups present in chitosan has also been attempted to irreversibly attach these molecules to chitosan scaffolds. This chapter focuses on the use of chitosan as a growth factor delivery system to promote tissue regeneration.