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Abstract
A biodegradable scaffold in tissue engineering serves as a temporary skeleton to accommodate
and stimulate new tissue growth. Here we report on the development of a biodegradable
porous scaffold made from naturally derived chitosan and alginate polymers with significantly
improved mechanical and biological properties as compared to its chitosan counterpart.
Enhanced mechanical properties were attributable to the formation of a complex structure
of chitosan and alginate. Bone-forming osteoblasts readily attached to the chitosan-alginate
scaffold, proliferated well, and deposited calcified matrix. The in vivo study showed
that the hybrid scaffold had a high degree of tissue compatibility. Calcium deposition
occurred as early as the fourth week after implantation. The chitosan-alginate scaffold
can be prepared from solutions of physiological pH, which may provide a favorable
environment for incorporating proteins with less risk of denaturation. Coacervation
of chitosan and alginate combined with liquid-solid separation provides a scaffold
with high porosity, and mechanical and biological properties suitable for rapid advancement
into clinical trials.