Objective To investigate the behavior of rat calvarial osteoblasts cultured on chitosan-gelatin/hydroxyapatite (CSGel/HA) composite scaffolds. Methods The rat calvarial osteoblasts (the 3rd passage) were seeded at a density of 1.01×106 cells/ml onto the CS-Gel/HA composite scaffolds having porosity 85.20%, 90.40% and 95.80%. Cell number was counted after cultured for 3 days,1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. Cell proliferation, bone-like tissue formation, and mineralization were separately detected by HE, von Kossa histological stainingtechniques. Results The CS-Gel/HA composite scaffolds supported the attachmentof seeded rat calvarial osteoblasts. Cells proliferated faster in scaffold withhigher porosity 90.40% and 95.80% than scaffold with lower porosity 85.20%. The osteoblasts/scaffold constructs were feasible for mineral deposition, and bonelike tissue formation in 3 weeks. Conclusion This study suggests the feasibility of using CS-Gel/HA composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
【Abstract】 Objective To increase the viscosity of chitosan/glycerol phosphate（C/GP）and to improve its preparation technique in order to develop the appl ication range of C/GP. Methods Chitosan was treated by high-pressure vapor steril ization in order to prepare high viscous C/GP（HV-C/GP）and prepare C/GP by standard methods. The rheologic changes of HV-C/GP and C/GP were detected dynamically by the Gemini rheometer. The initial solution viscosity, gelation temperature and gelation time were evaluated after the viscosity of the materials were increased. Two gelation materials were placed into continuous flow thermostated cells under the same condition and harvest them at predetermined time intervals, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 10th and 25th days, then they were dried, weighed and the mass loss rate was calculated. Ultrastructure of the freeze-dried samples was visual ized by the scanning electron microscope. Results The initial viscosity of C/GP was 1.81 Pas and that of HV-C/GP was 17.24 Pas. The latter one increased 10 times as well as the former one. The gelation temperature of C/GP was 37°C and that of HV-C/GP was 34°C. There was no remarkable difference in gelation time between them. The mass loss rate of HV-C/GP at first day was 72.5% and at 25th days was 90.8%, while that of C/GP was 55.4% and 78.2%. Porous network structure was observed by the scanning electron microscope in both of them. The pore diameter of C/GP was 50-100 μm and that of HV-C/GP was 30-50 μm, which was obviously smaller than the former. Conclusion The viscosity of HV-C/GP prepared by improved technique obviously increases and the thermosensitivity has no significant changes. The degradation time of HV-C/GP in vitro lengthens. The micrographs show that the HV-C/GP gels are porous and the pore diameter are smaller than C/GP.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of chitosan/allogeneic bone powder composite porous scaffold as scaffold material of bone tissue engineering in repairing bone defect. MethodsThe composite porous scaffolds were prepared with chitosan and decalcified allogeneic bone powder at a ratio of 1∶5 by vacuum freeze-drying technique. Chitosan scaffold served as control. Ethanol alternative method was used to measure its porosity, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to measure pore size. The hole of 3.5 mm in diameter was made on the bilateral femoral condyles of 40 adult Sprague Dawley rats. The composite porous scaffolds and chitosan scaffolds were implanted into the hole of the left femoral condyle (experimental group) and the hole of the right femoral condyle (control group), respectively. At 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation, the tissues were harvested for gross observation, histological observation, and immunohistochemical staining. ResultsThe composite porous scaffold prepared by vacuum freeze-drying technique had yellowish color, and brittle and easily broken texture; pore size was mostly 200-300μm; and the porosity was 76.8%±1.1%, showing no significant difference when compared with the porosity of pure chitosan scaffold (78.4%±1.4%) (t=-2.10, P=0.09). The gross observation and histological observation showed that the defect area was filled with new bone with time, and new bone of the experimental group was significantly more than that of the control group. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation, the bone forming area of the experimental group was significantly larger than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The immunohistochemical staining results showed that osteoprotegerin (OPG) positive expression was found in the experimental group at different time points, and the positive expression level was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionChitosan/allogeneic bone powder composite porous scaffold has suitable porosity and good osteogenic activity, so it is a good material for repairing bone defect, and its bone forming volume and bone formation rate are better than those of pure chitosan scaffold.
To evaluate the effect of deacetylation degree (DDA) on the gelation behavior of thermosensitive chitosan-β glycerol phosphate disodium salt pentahydrate (CH-GP) system and to compare their rheological behaviors before and after gelation. Methods A series of thermosensitive CH-GP samples with different DDAs (70%, 85%, 90%, 97%)were prepared by dissolving CH with 0.1 mol/L HCl solution, 5 samples for every single DDA, and then all these CH-GP solution samples processed the frequency sweep test and temperature sweep test (10-70℃ , 1℃ /min) on AR 2000ex rheometer, with pH value of 7.02. Also, all the results of hydrogel samples were processed a frequency sweep test. Results With CH concentration of 2% (w/v) and pH value of 7.02 , the gelating temperature of CH-GP systems with different DDAs (85%, 90%, 97%) were (59.90 ± 0.08), (48.10 ± 0.08), (37.10 ± 0.11) ℃ , respectively. While the gelating temperature of CH-GP system with 70% DDA was over 70℃ . There were statistically significant differences in temperature and time of gelation among groups with different DDAs (P lt; 0.05). Furthermore, storage modulus of such system raised from dozens Pa to a magnitude of several kPa during gelation , while loss modulus kept almost steady. Conclusion Gelating temperature and mechanical property of the system could be measured objectively by rheological characterization. Thus during designing tissue engineered scaffolds for various purposes, it is helpful applying selected CH with optimal DDA to different target tissues.
Human fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes were used for culture. Chitosan solution were added in the culture solution(DMEM). After 72 hours, the fibroblasts showed rapid growth in the control culture without Chitosan, But the numbers of human fibroblasts from growth was decreased as the concentration of Chitosan was increasing. On the contrary the human epidermal keratinocytes growed more rapidly in the culture with Chitosan than in the culture without Chitosan. The results showed that Chitosan inhibited the growwth of human fibroblast and stimulated the growth of human epidermal keratinocyte .
OBJECTIVE: To repair esophageal defects with an artificial prosthesis composed of biodegradable materials and nonbiodegradable materials, which is gradually replaced by host tissue. METHODS: The artificial esophagus was a two-layer tube consisting of a chitosan-collagen sponge and an inner polyurethane stent with a diameter of 20 mm and a length of 50 mm. We used the artificial esophagus to replace 5 cm esophageal defects in group I (five dogs) and in group II (ten dogs), and nutritional support was given after operation. The inner polyurethane stent was removed after 2 weeks in group I and after 4 weeks in group II endoscopically and epithelization of the regenerated esophagus was observed by histologic examination and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: In group I, the polyurethane stent was removed after 2 weeks, and partial regeneration of esophageal epithelial was observed; and constriction of the regenerated esophagus progressed and the dogs became unable to swallow after 4 weeks. In group II, the polyurethane stent was removed after 4 weeks, highly regenerated esophageal tissue successfully replaced the defect and complete epithelization of the regenerated esophagus was observed. After 12 weeks, complete regeneration of esophageal mucosa structures, including mucosal smooth muscle and mucosal glands and partial regeneration of esophageal muscle tissue were observed. CONCLUSION: Esophageal high-order structures can be regenerated and provided a temporary stent and support by polyurethane stent and an adequate three-dimensional structure for 4 weeks by collagen-chitosan sponge.
Objective To introduce the application of polymer material, chitosan, in the cartilage tissue engineering. Methods The recent original articleson the application of chitosan in cartilage tissue engineering were extensivelyreviewed. The biocompatibility and biodegradation characters of chitosan and its application were analysed.Results Chitosan has a high degree of biocompatibility and a favorable chondrogenic characteristic. It can support the maintenance of the phenotypic morphology of chondrocytes besides being used as a scaffold for cell growth. Conclusion The perspect of the application of chitosan in cartilage tissue engineering is hopeful.
Objective To fabricate a nanohydroxyapatite-chitosan(nano-HA-CS) scaffold with high porosity by a simple and effective technique and to evaluate the physical and chemical properties and the cytocompatibility of the composite scaffold. Methods The threedimensional nano-HA-CS scaffolds with high porosity were prepared by the in situ hybridization-freeze-drying method. The microscopic morphology and components of the composite scaffolds were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, the X-ray diffraction（XRD）examination, and the Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）. The calvarial osteoblasts were isolated from the neonatal Wistar rats. The serial subcultured cells (3rd passage) were respectively seeded onto the nanoHACS scaffold and the CS scaffold, and then were cocultured for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. At each time point,four specimens from each matrix were taken to determine the celladhesion rate. The cell morphology was observed by the histological staining and SEM. Results The macroporous nanoHACS scaffolds had a feature of high porosity with a pore diameter from 100 to 500 μm (mostly 400500 μm). The scaffolds had a high interval porosity; however, the interval porosity was obviously decreased and the scaffold density was increased with an increase in the contents of CS and HA. The SEM and TEM results showed that the nanosized HA was synthesized and was distributed on the pore walls homogeneously and continuously. The XRD and FTIR results showed that the HA crystals were carbonatesubstituded and not wellcrystallized. The cytocompatibility test showed that the seeded osteoblasts could adhere the scaffolds, proliferating and producing the extracellular matrix on the scaffolds. The adherence rate for the nanoHACS scaffolds was obviously higher than that for the pure CS scaffolds. Conclusion The nano-HA-CS scaffolds fabricated by the in situ hybridization-freeze-drying method have a good physical and chemical properties and a good cytocompatibility; therefore, this kind of scaffolds may be successfully used in the bone tissue engineering.
Objective To study the grafting effect of tissue engineered artificial rat skin equivalent on full thickness wounds. Methods Full thickness wounds(Φ20mm) were made on the backs of twenty four nude mice which be divided in artificial skin(AS) group, chitosan membrane(CH) group and control group. All wounds were covered with AS, CH and petrolatum gauze , respectively. The wounds were observed daily by infrared ray scanning and histological examination on the 3rd , 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Results The wounds in AS group healed better than those in CH group and control group. The artificial skin achieved a good adherence to wound and there were some crescent regenerative blood vessel appeared in the AS group on the 3rd day of grafting. Then, the epidermal cells in artificial skin proliferated and differentiated to form a new epidermis consisting of stratum basal, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum corneum almost like the natural skin. Dermis of the sd extracellular matrix secreted by fibroblasts; the chitosan lattice was degraded and replaced by the extracellular matrix. On the 14th day of grafting, the wounds healed. The color of artificial skin grafted was very similar to the natrual skin and the formed scar was very smaal. Conclusion A kind of new reconstructive tissue engineering artificial skin has good histocompatibility and can be transplanted into the full-thickness wounds.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electrospun chitosan/polylactic acid (ch/PLA) nerve conduit for repairing peripheral nerve defect in rats. MethodsNerve conducts loaded with ch/PLA was made by the way of electrospun. The mechanical property, hydrophility, biocompatibility were tested, and the scanning electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure. The same experiments were also performed on pure PLA nerve conducts as a comparison. Then, 54 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly, 18 rats in each group. Firstly, the 10 mm defects in the right sciatic nerves were made in the rats and were respectively repaired with ch/PLA (group A), autografts (group B), and no implant (group C). At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, general observations, sciatic functional index (SFI), electrophysiological evaluation, wet weight of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, histological examination, immunohistological analysis, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the effects. ResultsCompared with pure PLA nerve conducts, the addition of chitosan could improve the mechanical property, hydrophility, biocompatibility, and ultrastructure of the nerve conducts. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the regenerated nerve bridged the nerve defect in group A. The SFI improved gradually in both group A and group B, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). Compound muscle action potentials and nerve conduction velocity could be detected in both group A and group B at 8 and 12 weeks after operation, and significant improvements were shown in both groups (P<0.05). The wet weight and myocyte cross section of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles showed no significant difference between group A and group B (P>0.05), but there was significant difference when compared with group C (P<0.05) at 12 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistological analysis revealed that S-100 positive Schwann cells migrated in both group A and group B, and axon also regenerated by immunohistological staining for growth associated protein 43 and neurofilaments 160. Transmission electron microscopy showed no significant difference in the diameter of nerve fiber between group A and group B (P>0.05), but the thickness of myelin sheath in group A was significantly larger than that in group B (P<0.05). ConclusionThe electrospun ch/PLA nerve conduits can effectively promote the peripheral nerve regeneration, and may promise an alternative to nerve autograft for repairing peripheral nerve defect.