Chitosan/collagen matrices

Chen RN, Wang GM, Chen CH, et al. Development of N,0-(carboxymethyl)chitosan/ collagen matrixes as a wound dressing. Biomacromolecules 2006 7(4) 1058—64. 

Scaffolds can be made from natural or synthetic materials. Such materials fall under the category of biomaterials. A biomaterial can be considered a single element or compound, which is a composite or mixture of elements, and is synthesized or derived to be used in the body to preserve, restore, or augment the structure or function of the body. Examples of natural materials for scaffold construction are extracellular matrix, collagen, fibrin, and polysaccharides (e.g., chitosan or glycosaminoglycans). Natural materials, unless they are obtained from the patient who receives the neo-organ implant, will cause an immunogenic response. This is not always the case with synthetic materials. 

Chitosan can form 3D scaffold that are too weak to be useful in tissue engineering. Hence, inclusion in the chitosan matrix and/or grafting onto chitosan of other substances such as collagen, other biopolymers, or hydroxyapatite has been achieved to improve the mechanical properties of the scaffold and to mimic the nanostructure of the tissue for a better cell adhesion/infiltration and/or to provide thermosensitivity for in situ gelation. 

Matrix composed of collagen and chitosan prepared by using crosslinking agent EDC in... 

Wang XH, Li DP, Wang WJ et al (2003) Crosslinked collagen/chitosan matrix for artificial fivers. Biomaterials 24 3213-3220... 

Chitosan can be incorporated into composite materials to create scaffolds with cellbinding and mechanical properties that vary from pure chitosan. Chitosan cross-linked with collagen has been investigated as a candidate for use as a matrix to support a bioartificial liver. The study showed... 

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