Biomimetic Polysaccharides and Derivatives for Cartilage Tissue Regeneration - Biomimetics: Advancing Nanobiomaterials and Tissue Engineering - page 6

Table 1.1

(

Cont.

)

Natural
Polymers

Advantages Disadvantages References

Chitin/
Chitosan

Hydrophilic sur-
face promoting
cell adhesion,
proliferation
and differen-
tiation. Good
biocompatibility
and acceptable
host response.
Antibacterial
activity.

Mechanical weak-
ness and insta-
bility. Incapacity
to maintain
a predefi ned
shape.
Impurities affect-
ing material
properties.

[12-24]

Bacterial
Cellulose

High purity,
nanofi brous
structure, high
tensile strength
and good
biocompatibility.

Small pore size.
Early stage of
investigation as
scaffold for TE,
needs further
investigations
on in vivo .

[7, 110, 111,
114]

Collagen Low antigenic-

ity and good
cell-binding
properties.

Low biomechani-
cal stiffness and
rapid biodegra-
dation. Toxicity
of some of the
crosslinking
agents.

[7, 25, 26]

Chondroitin
sulfate

Able to absorb
and hold water,
thereby giv-
ing cartilage its
elasticity and
fl uidity

Highly water
soluble and
poor intrinsic
gel formation
properties. Low
mechanical
properties.

[19, 27, 37]

Fibrin glue Improve histologi-

cal Appearance.
Can be used
as carrier of
growth factor.

Lack of mechanical
properties. May
evoke immune
response.
Does not permit
host cell ingrowth.

[28, 29]