title: Novel biodegradable films and scaffolds of chitosan blended with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).
abstract: In order to develop a novel biomaterial, films of chitosan blended with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were prepared by an emulsion blending technique and their properties were characterized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that PHB microspheres were formed and were entrapped in chitosan matrices, which made the film surface rough. With increasing PHB content, the roughness of the film surface increased, while the swelling capability of the films decreased. In a wet state, the blended films exhibited a lower elastic modulus, a higher elongation-at-break and a higher tensile strength compared with chitosan films. Cell-culture experiments revealed that the blended films had better cytocompatibility than chitosan films. To explore the potential application of the blended material in tissue engineering, the porous blended scaffolds were fabricated and their pore morphology was observed by SEM. The results revealed that not only pore structure but also pore wall morphology of the blended scaffolds could be controlled by selecting the parameters of the fabrication process. These advantageous properties indicate that the blended chitosan/PHB material is promising for tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Wenling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Aijun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Duohui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Yandao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Nanming
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiufang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D046508:Culture Techniques; D017886:Durapatite; D004655:Emulsions; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan; D003470:Culture Media; D017886:Durapatite; D004655:Emulsions; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates; C022616:thiazolyl blue