title: Microstructure and characteristic properties of gelatin/chitosan scaffold prepared by a combined freeze-drying/leaching method.
abstract: A combined freeze-drying and particulate leaching method for scaffold synthesis showed an improvement in the horizontal microstructure of the gelatin/chitosan scaffolds. Type and concentration of the cross-linking agent, freezing temperature, concentration of the polymeric solution and gelatin/chitosan weight ratio were the variables affecting the scaffold properties. Assessment of the tensile properties of the scaffolds revealed that for a scaffold with 50% chitosan, glutaraldehyde, as a cross-linking agent, created much tighter polymeric network compared to N,N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethyl carbodiimide (EDC). However, in the case of gelatin scaffolds, EDC was identified as the stronger cross-linker. Compressive behavior of the scaffolds satisfied formulations obtained from the theoretical modeling of the low-density, elastomeric foams. The investigation of the scaffold degradation indicated that the increase in the mechanical strength of the scaffolds would not always reduce their degradation rate.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymeric Materials, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Khoshfetrat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghaleh
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002645:Chickens; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005615:Freezing; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D005780:Gelatin; D048271:Chitosan; D009113:Muramidase
keywords: Chitosan; Cross-linking; Degradation; Gelatin; Porosity; Scaffold