Abstract
The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of chitosan content (1, 3 and 5 wt %) dispersed in polylactic acid (PLA) on the structure and properties of composites. Also, the hydrolytic degradation, and the cell viability and adhesion of human MG-63 osteoblasts are analyzed to determine the composites’ suitability for use in tissue engineering. For the manufacture of the materials, natural chitosan was extracted chemically from shrimp exoskeleton. The composites were fabricated by extrusion, because it is a low-cost process, it is reproducible, and it does not compromise the biocompatibility of the materials. FT-IR and XRD show that the chitosan does not change the polymer structure, and interactions between the composite components are discarded. In vitro degradation tests show that the composites do not induce significant pH changes in phosphate buffer solution due to their low susceptibility to hydrolytic degradation. The adhesion and morphological characteristics of the osteoblasts are evaluated using confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The cell viability is determined by the MTT assay. Osteoblasts adhesion is observed on the surface of PLA and composites. A higher amount of chitosan, higher number of cells with osteoblastic morphology, and mineralized nodules are observed on the composite surface. The highest metabolic activity is evidenced at 21 days. The results suggest that the Polylactic acid/chitosan composites are potentially suitable for use as a biomaterial.
Highlights
The development of materials that combine the mechanical properties, chemical stability, and biological characteristics required to promote tissue growth is the main focus of research in the field of tissue engineering
The chitosan particle distribution in the composites matrix was evaluated by confocal microscopy (Figure 1)
The polylactic acid (PLA)/Q1 and PLA/Q3 composites show a good dispersion of chitosan in the PLA matrix, the particles are aligned along the extrusion direction because of their flake morphology
Summary
The development of materials that combine the mechanical properties, chemical stability, and biological characteristics required to promote tissue growth is the main focus of research in the field of tissue engineering. Biocompatibility, and osteoconductive properties, it has been successfully used in drug delivery systems and in fracture fixation devices, but its hydrophobic surface produces an inflammatory response, and its degradation causes a decline of cell adhesion and cell proliferation [10] The polymer blends, such as PLA-PLC, PLA-phosphates, PLA-PLGA, PLA-hydroxyapatite, and PLA-chitosan [11,12,13,14,15], are focused on obtaining useful properties. The chitosan blends have a great potential in tissue engineering because chitosan is a biocompatible polymer with a similar structure to the glucosamine of the extracellular matrix It shows antimicrobial activity, and its hydrophilic surface promotes adhesion, proliferation, and cell differentiation. It has been successfully used for wound healing, promotion of bone growth, and to enhance the anti-inflammatory response [16,17]
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