Application of Chitosan-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering - Chitosan Based Hydrogels: Functions and Applications - page 450

Figure 9.39
Porous chitosan/gelatin scaffold with specific external shape and predefined internal morphology. (a) CAD
model, (b) resin mould fabricated using the SL technique, (c) porous chitosan/gelatin scaffold, (d) SEM of the
predefined internal morphology, (e) microstructures when segmented longitudinally, and (f) microstructures
when segmented transversely. (From He, J. K. et al. 2007. Polymer 48: 4578-4588. With permission.)
fully interconnected porous structure (Figures 9.39e and f). These organized architectures
have the potential to allow the orderly arrangement and coculture of various liver cells,
such as hepatocytes and ECs. Hepatocytes could form large colonies in the predefined
hepatic chambers, and these cavities could be completely filled with hepatocytes during 7
day culture. Albumin secretion and urea synthesis further indicated that the well-
organized scaffolds were more suitable for hepatocyte culture.
9.6 Summary and outlook
In summary, chitosan is an attractive candidate biomaterial that shows a great potential in
tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility, controlled biodegradability, and functional-
ity. It can be used as a substitute for blood vessel, skin, cartilage, bone, nerve, liver, and so
on. Table 9.4 summarizes the applications of chitosan-based biomaterials in tissue engi-
neering. However, currently there are few chitosan-based tissue-engineering products.
Although much progress has been made to apply chitosan-based biomaterials in tissue
engineering, many limitations need to be overcome to develop more clinically meaningful
chitosan scaffolds for various kinds of tissue regeneration. There are still many challenges
in improving their properties.