Abstract
In this study, three-dimensional (3D) biopolymeric scaffolds made from collagen, silk fibroin and chitosan were successfully prepared by the freeze drying method. Dialdehyde starch (DAS) was used as a cross-linking agent for the materials. The properties of the materials were studied using density and porosity measurements, scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, swelling and moisture content measurements. Additionally, cytocompatibility of the materials in contact with MG-63 osteoblast-like cells was tested by live/dead staining and resazurin reduction assay on days 1, 3 and 7. It was found that new 3D materials made from collagen/silk fibroin/chitosan binary or ternary mixtures are hydrophilic with a high swelling ability (swelling rate in the range of 1680–1900%). Cross-linking of such biopolymeric materials with DAS increased swelling rate up to about 2100%, reduced porosity from 96–97% to 91–93%, and also decreased density and moisture content of the materials. Interestingly, presence of DAS did not influence the microstructure of the scaffolds as compared to non-cross-linked samples as shown by SEM. All the tested samples were found to be cytocompatible and supported adhesion and growth of MG-63 cells as shown by live–dead staining and metabolic activity test.
Highlights
Bone tissue plays many important functions in the human body, e.g., supporting, transferring load, protecting organs, acting as a reservoir of vital elements and cells [1]
The porosity and density were measured for single polymers and their mixtures with the addition of chitosan and a cross-linking agent (DAS)
Three-dimensional scaffolds based on silk fibroin, collagen and chitosan, cross-linked by
Summary
Bone tissue plays many important functions in the human body, e.g., supporting, transferring load, protecting organs, acting as a reservoir of vital elements and cells [1]. In response to the needs of bone tissue engineering, new biomaterials with required features such as biocompatibility, bioresorbability, bioactivity and degradability to non-toxic degradation products have been designed [2,3,4]. Materials based on polymers in the form of porous scaffolds are used to obtain implants for filling small bone tissue cavities [5]. Such scaffolds should be characterized by a combination of chemical and biological properties [6,7,8]. Biomaterials based on natural polymers can be biodegradable due to several chemical moieties in the biopolymer structure [9].
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