Effect of silanization on chitosan porous scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2014-01, Vol.101, p.718-726
• Main Authors: Li, Guicai, Zhang, Luzhong, Wang, Caiping, Zhao, Xueying, Zhu, Changlai, Zheng, Yanhong, Wang, Yaling, Zhao, Yahong, Yang, Yumin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chitosan - chemistry; Chitosan - pharmacology; Chitosan porous scaffolds; Exact sciences and technology; Feasibility Studies; Freeze Drying; Medical sciences; Natural polymers; Nerve Regeneration - drug effects; Peripheral nerve regeneration; Peripheral Nerves - cytology; Peripheral Nerves - drug effects; Peripheral Nerves - physiology; Physicochemistry of polymers; Porosity; Propylamines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Schwann cells; Schwann Cells - cytology; Schwann Cells - drug effects; Silanes - chemistry; Silanization; Starch and polysaccharides; Structure-Activity Relationship; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.09.064

•APTE silanized chitosan scaffolds were successfully prepared.•Silanization treatment changed the morphology of original CS scaffolds.•Silanization treatment increased the porosity while reduced the swelling ratio of CS scaffolds.•The silanized CS scaffolds possessed improved stability in PBS and HCl.•The silanized scaffolds could promote the proliferation of Schwann cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTE) silanization treatment for modification and biocompatibility of lyophilized chitosan porous scaffolds. The process is beneficial for biomaterial development due to its low toxicity and simplicity. The silanization treatment with low APTE concentration showed no significant influence on the morphology of chitosan scaffolds, while a skin-like surface was observed for the silanized scaffolds treated with high APTE concentration. The porosity and surface amino densities were increased after silanization whereas the swelling ratio was reduced, and the degradation ratio in PBS and anti-acid degradation properties of the silanized chitosan scaffolds were significantly improved. The in vitro Schwann cells culture demonstrated that the silanized scaffolds with 8% APTE could obviously facilitate the attachment and proliferation of Schwann cells, indicating great potential for the application in peripheral nerve regeneration.