title: Biological activity of chitosan: ultrastructural study.
abstract: Reparative processes are reconstructive phenomena in which cellular elements and extracellular matrix glycoproteins interact to build the injured tissue. Biomaterials can be used to improve or stimulate reconstruction. In the present experimental investigation, tissue repair induced by chitosan, an 86.8% deacetylated poly(GlcNAc), was monitored by morphological analysis. To evaluate its biological role, chitosan was positioned in contact with dura mater or was used as a dura mater substitute. This polysaccharide, having structural characteristics similar to glycosaminoglycans, seems to mimic their functional behaviour. The inductive and stimulatory activity of chitosan on connective tissue-rebuilding is clearly demonstrated, and it is suggested that chitosan could be considered a primer on which a normal tissue architecture is organized.
authors.affiliation: Chimica e P. Biochimica, Facolta di Medicina, Università di Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muzzarelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baldassarre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazzanelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002415:Cats; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048271:Chitosan; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002686:Chitin; D003094:Collagen; D048271:Chitosan