Thermosensitive scaffolds

Smart biomaterials with stimuh-responsiveness, namely thermosensitive scaffolds, are widely studied for cartilage-tissue engineering. One of the best-known thermo-responsive biopolymers is poly(N-isopropyl aCTylamide) (pNIPAAm), which presents a typical sol-gel transition at approximately 32°C (Prabaharan and Mano, 2006). 

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. 

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