Title: Design and preparation of chitosan/HA composite scaffolds for tissue engineering with long-bone-like structure

Authors: Qingfeng Zan, Chen Wang, Limin Dong, Peng Cheng, Jiemo Tian

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. ' State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. ' State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. ' State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. ' State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China

Abstract: A novel long-bone-like structural scaffold was fabricated by freeze-drying and alkalisation process. The structure of the hydroxyapatite/chitosan scaffolds was composed of outer dense shell and inner porous sponge with aperture of 300 ∼ 500 μm. An advantage of the scaffolds is that the dense shell could support the main loading while it was pressed, and the inner pores and wherein cells and tissues could be protected. The compressive strength and compressive modulus were 6.85 MPa and 65.09 MPa, respectively. Hence, the scaffolds were suitable for bone replacement or bone tissue engineering.

Keywords: chitosan; scaffolds; bone tissue engineering; long-bone-like structure; freeze drying; alkalisation; hydroxyapatite; compressive strength; compressive modulus; bone replacement; bioengineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2010.031426

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2010 Vol.37 No.3/4, pp.271 - 279

Published online: 03 Feb 2010 *

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