Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (21): 3873-3877.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.21.017

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Construction and property of three-dimensional poly(propylene carbonate)/chitosan nanofibers composite porous scaffolds

Chen Hao-dong1, Zhao Jian-hao 1,2, Zeng Rong 1,2, Tu Mei 1,2, Zha Zhen-gang 2,3   

  1. 1 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Collage of Sciences and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou  510632, Guangdong Province, China; 2 Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou  510632, Guangdong Province, China;  3Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou  510630, Guangdong Province, China
  • Online:2010-05-21 Published:2010-05-21
  • Contact: Tu Mei, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Collage of Sciences and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China tumei@jnu.edu.cn
  • About author:Chen Hao-dong★, Studying for master’s degree, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Collage of Sciences and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China chdwjs@foxmail.com
  • Supported by:

    the National “863” Program, No. 2007AA09Z440*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is a new synthetic polyester with good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, but it also lacks of bioactivity as other synthetic polymers. Nanofibrous chitosan shows an excellent bioactivity. However, nanofibrous chitosan is hard to fabricate a three dimensional network with a high mechanical property.
OBJECTIVE: To fabricate three dimensional poly(propylene carbonate)/chitosan nanofibers (PPC/CSNF) composite porous scaffolds with good mechanical properties and bioactivity by combining PPC and CSNF.
METHODS: PPC porous scaffold was firstly fabricated by combining a solution-casting and a porogen-leaching technique, followed by in situ phase separation of chitosan solution within the PPC scaffold to form PPC/CSNF composite porous scaffold. The morphology of PPC and PPC/CSNF scaffolds were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The compressive modulus and porosity of the scaffolds were characterized. The cell growth after PPC/CSNF scaffold being subepidermally implanted in the leg of New Zealand rabbit for one and two months was also evaluated by SEM observation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A PPC porous scaffold with interconnected pores of 200-500 μm was fabricated. The diameter of chitosan nanofibers in the PPC/CSNF scaffold varied from 50 nm to 500 nm. All the scaffolds showed a high porosity of over 90%. The compressive modulus of various scaffolds increased with the concentration of PPC and reached a maximum of about 15 MPa, which met the mechanical requirement of cartilage tissue engineering scaffolds. The implant results showed that PPC/CSNF porous scaffold had good bioactivity and was able to induce the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells of New Zealand rabbit into chondrocytes. A three dimensional PPC/CSNF composite porous scaffold with good mechanical properties and bioactivity was successfully fabricated by combing a phase separation and a solution-casting/porogen-leaching technique. The PPC/CSNF composite scaffold could promote the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells of New Zealand rabbit into chondrocytes.

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