Fabrication and characterization of chitosan-collagen crosslinked membranes for corneal tissue engineering

• Published in: Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer ed. Vol. 25; no. 17; pp. 1962 - 1972
• Main Authors: Li, Weichang, Long, Yuyu, Liu, Yang, Long, Kai, Liu, Sa, Wang, Zhichong, Wang, Yingjun, Ren, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 22.11.2014
• Subjects: 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC); Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; collagen; Collagen - chemistry; Collagens; Contact angle; Cornea - cytology; crosslinked membranes; Crosslinking; Humans; Mechanical Phenomena; Membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Optical Phenomena; Surgical implants; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC); collagen; chitosan; crosslinked membranes
• ISSN: 0920-5063; 1568-5624
• DOI: 10.1080/09205063.2014.965996

This article describes a chitosan-collagen composite membrane as corneal tissue-engineering biomaterials. The membrane was prepared by dissolving the chitosan into collagen with the weight ratio of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 100%, followed by crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. Mechanical properties, contact angles, and optical transmittance were determined and compared between chitosan membrane and crosslinking composite membrane. As a result, the optical transparency and mechanical strength of the chitosan-collagen membranes were significantly better than that of the sample of chitosan. In addition, in vitro cell culture studies revealed that the collagen has no negative effect on the cell morphology, viability, and proliferation and possess good biocompatibility. Overall, the dendrimer crosslinked chitosan-collagen composite membranes showed promising properties that suggest that these might be suitable biomaterials for corneal tissue-engineering applications.