Improvement of mechanical properties of chitosan-based scaffolds using montmorillonite for tissue engineering applications
Improvement of mechanical properties of chitosan-based scaffolds using montmorillonite for tissue engineering applications
Zahra Katoli,1Mona Navaei-Nigjeh,2,*Hossein Sabahi,3Maryam Baeeri,4Mohammad Akrami,5
1. Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences & Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 2. Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran/Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials and Medical Biomaterials Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences 3. Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences & Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 4. Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran 5. Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials and Medical Biomaterials Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
Introduction: A suitable scaffold for tissue engineering must have good mechanical properties. Materials such as ceramics and natural or synthetic polymers can be used to make scaffolds. Polymers alone have low mechanical properties, so using the composite mode, such as combining polymers with ceramics, became more popular. Composite materials are promising biomaterials used to produce 3D scaffolds. A combination of at least two properly selected phases collects the advantages of the components and minimizes the disadvantages of each component, thereby improving the overall properties compared to the characteristics of each component alone.
Methods: In this study, montmorillonite (MMT), an inorganic nanoparticle with a layered structure and a negative charge, was used to increase the mechanical properties of the chitosan (CS) scaffold. CS polymer with a positive charge can intercalate into layers of MMT. CS/MMT composite microfibers with different concentrations of MMT were prepared by microfluidic technique, and the characteristics of the microfibers were evaluated by a tensile test.
Results: The results showed that the MMT layers inside the CS matrix were well dispersed in microfibers with a low concentration of MMT. This exfoliation and uniform dispersion improved mechanical properties and significantly increased Young's modulus compared to CS microfibers. However, due to non-uniform dispersion and aggregation of MMT nanoparticles at higher concentrations, Young's modulus started to decrease.
Conclusion: This study showed the effect of MMT inorganic nanoparticles in improving the mechanical properties, so we could significantly increase Young's modulus with its low concentration. Therefore, CS/MMT microfibers prepared by the microfluidic technique have the potential to be used in tissue engineering applications and can play a significant role in the regeneration of damaged tissues.