Issue 21, 2014

Chitosan-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

Bone defects requiring grafts to promote healing are frequently occurring and costly problems in health care. Chitosan, a biodegradable, naturally occurring polymer, has drawn considerable attention in recent years as a scaffolding material in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Chitosan is especially attractive as a bone scaffold material because it supports the attachment and proliferation of osteoblast cells as well as formation of mineralized bone matrix. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals of bone tissue engineering and the unique properties of chitosan as a scaffolding material to treat bone defects for hard tissue regeneration. We present common methods for fabrication and characterization of chitosan scaffolds, and discuss the influence of material preparation and addition of polymeric or ceramic components or biomolecules on chitosan scaffold properties such as mechanical strength, structural integrity, and functional bone regeneration. Finally, we highlight recent advances in the development of chitosan-based scaffolds with enhanced bone regeneration capability.

Graphical abstract: Chitosan-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
06 Jan 2014
Accepted
04 Mac 2014
First published
05 Mac 2014

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 3161-3184

Chitosan-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

S. K. L. Levengood and M. Zhang, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014, 2, 3161 DOI: 10.1039/C4TB00027G

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