Chitosan Composite Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering—a Review

Abstract

The bone is a highly dynamic tissue with the remarkable ability to remodel and is in a continuous cycle of resorption and renewal as a result of internal mediators and external mechanical demands. Researchers have doubled their efforts to develop bone graft substitutes in order to overcome limitations that surround current bone loss treatment and the annual increase of cases dealing with bone loss and dysfunction. Chitosan has been identified by many researchers as a suitable biomaterial for bone tissue engineering applications. Chitosan holds various favourable properties, yet the mechanical strength of pure chitosan scaffolds hinders its application in bone tissue engineering. By combining chitosan with other materials, the advantageous properties can potentially be retained or even enhanced and limiting properties can be mediated. Chitosan has been blended in varying combinations with a variety of materials that include ceramics, synthetic polymers, natural polymers and other additives. This review will focus on chitosan-based biomaterials that have been developed for bone tissue engineering. The application of chitosan-based biomaterials in the bone tissue engineering field has become increasingly popular among researchers. Chitosan has many favourable properties; however, limitations have hindered its application in bone tissue engineering. To overcome these limitations, chitosan has been blended with other polymers (natural and synthetic), ceramics and other additives. These composite materials are combined to eliminate unfavourable properties and retain favourable properties.