Preparation and biocompatibility of chitosan microcarriers as biomaterial

Chitosan microcarriers (100-200 mu m) were prepared by the methods of emulsification and ethanol coagulant. It has smooth surface and was stable in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of at pH 7.2 in the treatment of temperature 120 degrees C and pressure 150 kPa. The chitosan microcarriers showed molecular affinity to the bovine serum proteins at pH 7.2. The adsorptive capacity of the microcarriers to the serum albumin was 6.8 mg protein/g chitosan bead. The chitosan microcarriers were found to have good biocompatibility and no cytotoxicity to both human and mouse fibroblasts in tissue cell culture. The fibroblasts well adhered on the smooth surface of the chitosan microcarriers and grew in high cell density. The results suggest a good potential of the chitosan microcarriers as a wound-healing biomaterial. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.