Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of squid pen chitosan for developing injectable gels for bone tissue engineering applications. Gel mixtures made of glycerol phosphate mixed with crab (RC) or squid pen (RS) chitosan (2 % w/v) at four different concentrations (0, 30, 50 and 70 %) of calcium phosphate compounds (CaP, hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate, HA/beta-TCP) were investigated for their biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The proposed gel rapidly settled (<3 min) and formed a stable gel at body temperature (i.e. 37 degrees C). The chemical compositions and crystallinity of the gels were characterised by FTIR and XRD. The surface morphologyand microstructure of the gels were characterised using SEM. The physical properties (such as water uptake, washout resistant and syringeability), compressive modulus and biocompatibility properties (cell cytotoxicity) of the gels were also studied. The RS chitosan gels showed the highest water uptake ability (>2000 %), compressive modulus (up to 26 kPa) and better cell (Saos-2) compatibility compared to the RC chitosan. This study showed that RS chitosan is a promising alternative to commercially available crab/shrimp chitosan for producing injectable gels for tissue engineering applications.
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