title: Properties and in vitro characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate-chitosan scaffolds prepared by modified precipitation method.
abstract: Porous polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-chitosan biopolymer scaffolds were prepared by co-precipitation from biopolymer solutions with propylene carbonate and acetic acid as solvents. A change of the fibrous character of chitosan precipitates to globular shaped forms with a polyhydroxybutyrate addition was found in suspensions. Scaffolds differ by porosity and morphology of polymers in microstructures, while chitosan represented more compact plate-like fibers and PHB characterized mainly fine fibrous globular agglomerates. Two structurally dissimilar phase regions were verified in blended scaffolds. A rise in the number of smaller pores, and fine structured polymer forms with PHB content were observed in the scaffolds. A significant reduction in the average molecular weight of biopolymers was found in pure chitosan scaffold, this after precipitation of the chitosan in the presence of propylene carbonate and in blends after mutual biopolymer mixing. Interactions between shortened chitosan chains, PHB and chitosan biopolymers in the blends were observed. An excellent fibroblast proliferation was found in scaffolds prepared from biopolymer blends.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research, Slovak Academy of Science, Watsonova 47, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic, lmedvecky@imr.saske.sk.
authors.forename: Lubomir
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Medvecky
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giretova
authors.forename: Radoslava
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stulajterova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005590:Fractional Precipitation / Q000379:methods; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013499:Surface Properties; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates