title: Chitosan hydrogels for chondroitin sulphate controlled release: an analytical characterization.
abstract: This paper provides an analytical characterization of chitosan scaffolds obtained by freeze-gelation toward the uptake and the controlled release of chondroitin sulphate (CS), as cartilage repair agent, under different pH conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and liquid chromatography-UV spectrophotometry (LC-UV) techniques were exploited to obtain qualitative and quantitative descriptions of polymer and drug behaviour in the biomaterial. As for morphology, SEM analysis allowed the evaluation of scaffold porosity in terms of pore size and distribution both at the surface (Feret diameter 58 ± 19 μm) and on the cross section (Feret diameter 106 ± 51 μm). LC and ATR-FTIR evidenced a pH-dependent CS loading and release behaviour, strongly highlighting the role of electrostatic forces on chitosan/chondroitin sulphate interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzanera
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruwet
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bettini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elviri