title: Osteoblast biocompatibility of premineralized, hexamethylene-1,6-diaminocarboxysulfonate crosslinked chitosan fibers.
abstract: Biopolymer-ceramic composites are thought to be particularly promising materials for bone tissue engineering as they more closely mimic natural bone. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication by electrospinning of fibrous chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds with low (1 wt %) and high (10 wt %) mineral contents. Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and unidirectional tensile testing were performed to determine fiber surface morphology, elemental composition, and tensile Young's modulus (E) and ultimate tensile strength (σUTS ), respectively. EDS scans of the scaffolds indicated that the fibers, crosslinked with either hexamethylene-1,6-diaminocarboxysulfonate (HDACS) or genipin, have a crystalline hydroxyapatite mineral content at 10 wt % additive. Moreover, FESEM micrographs showed that all electrospun fibers have diameters (122-249 nm), which fall within the range of those of fibrous collagen found in the extracellular matrix of bone. Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength of the various crosslinked composite compositions were in the range of 116-329 MPa and 2-15 MPa, respectively. Osteocytes seeded onto the mineralized fibers were able to demonstrate good biocompatibility enhancing the potential use for this material in future bone tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104.
authors.forename: Marjorie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kiechel
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104.
authors.forename: Laura T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Beringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104.
authors.forename: Amalie E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Donius
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19122.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19122.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Habas
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
authors.forename: Ulrike G K
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Wegst
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104.
authors.forename: Caroline L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: bone scaffold; chitosan; composite; diisocyanate; electrospinning; genipin; hydroxyapatite