Application of Chitosan-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering - Chitosan Based Hydrogels: Functions and Applications - page 453

pectin, which is rich in -COOH, into the chitosan network can improve the osteogenic
differentiation of MSCs [61]. Moreover, the differentiation of stem cells is also affected
by the scaffold structure. A decreased fiber diameter was found to enhance the
chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs [213]. And MSCs have a higher osteogenic
differentiation capacity on the nano-chitosan-gelatin-HAp surface than on the micro-
chitosan-gelatin-HAp surface [214]. Chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs on chitosan
was improved in fibrous scaffolds compared with porous scaffolds [215]. Above all,
chitosan-based biomaterials can provide a simulated natural environment with chemi-
cal, topographical signals for stem cell differentiation. Developing 3D chitosan-based
biomimetic scaffolds seems to be a shortcut to modulate stem cells under the natural
repair and remodeling process.
In general, the chitosan-based biomaterial system must only partly mimic living tissues
and must remain sufficiently far from the strict area of native ECMs. This concept is defined
according to two criteria: one is related to the chemical structure and the other to the
physical organization of the material. The ultimate objective of chitosan biomaterials is to
construct appropriate chemical microenvironment, physical microenvironment, mechani-
cal microenvironment, and bioactive microenvironment for cell growth and tissue regen-
eration. In order to achieve this goal, the marriage between materials science and biology
needs to grow stronger.
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