School of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, People's Republic of China.
J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010 Nov;95(2):465-75. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.32869.
In this study, genipin-cross-linked collagen/chitosan biodegradable porous scaffolds were prepared for articular cartilage regeneration. The influence of chitosan amount and genipin concentration on the scaffolds physicochemical properties was evaluated. The morphologies of the scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cross-linking degree was investigated by ninhydrin assay. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the scaffolds were assessed under dynamic compression. To study the swelling ratio and the biostability of the collagen/chitosan scaffold, in vitro tests were also carried out by immersion of the scaffolds in PBS solution or digestion in collagenase, respectively. The results showed that the morphologies of the scaffolds underwent a fiber-like to a sheet-like structural transition by increasing chitosan amount. Genipin cross-linking remarkably changed the morphologies and pore sizes of the scaffolds when chitosan amount was less than 25%. Either by increasing the chitosan ratio or performing cross-linking treatment, the swelling ratio of the scaffolds can be tailored. The ninhydrin assay demonstrated that the addition of chitosan could obviously increase the cross-linking efficiency. The degradation studies indicated that genipin cross-linking can effectively enhance the biostability of the scaffolds. The biocompatibility of the scaffolds was evaluated by culturing rabbit chondrocytes in vitro. This study demonstrated that a good viability of the chondrocytes seeded on the scaffold was achieved. The SEM analysis has revealed that the chondrocytes adhered well to the surface of the scaffolds and contacted each other. These results suggest that the genipin-cross-linked collagen/chitosan matrix may be a promising formulation for articular cartilage scaffolding.
在这项研究中，制备了京尼平交联的胶原/壳聚糖可生物降解多孔支架用于关节软骨再生。评估了壳聚糖用量和京尼平浓度对支架理化性质的影响。通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对支架的形貌进行了表征，并通过茚三酮试验研究了交联度。此外，还在动态压缩下评估了支架的机械性能。为了研究胶原/壳聚糖支架的溶胀率和生物稳定性，还分别通过将支架浸入 PBS 溶液或在胶原酶中消化进行了体外测试。结果表明，随着壳聚糖用量的增加，支架的形态从纤维状转变为片状结构。当壳聚糖用量小于 25%时，京尼平交联显著改变了支架的形态和孔径。通过增加壳聚糖的比例或进行交联处理，都可以调整支架的溶胀率。茚三酮试验表明，壳聚糖的加入可以明显提高交联效率。降解研究表明，京尼平交联可以有效地提高支架的生物稳定性。通过体外培养兔软骨细胞评估了支架的生物相容性。研究表明，接种在支架上的软骨细胞具有良好的活力。SEM 分析表明，软骨细胞很好地黏附在支架表面并相互接触。这些结果表明，京尼平交联的胶原/壳聚糖基质可能是一种有前途的关节软骨支架构建材料。
