Fabrication of Chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite Scaffolds via Low-temperature Deposition Manufacturing

To meet the requirement of scaffold in bone tissue engineering with controllable macro and micro pores and good mechanical properties, chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite 3D porous scaffolds were fabricated by low-temperature deposition manufacturing. A load force driven injecting nozzle was proposed and developed to extrude natural derived polymers. Strand of biomaterials was extruded steady, uniformly and bonded to each other well. Hierarchial structure of scaffold was studied. Morphology of scaffold's pores contains macropores and micropores. Macropores are fabricated controllably according to fabricating path. Morphology of micropores are affected by materials ratio and fabricating temperature, cross-link, etc. A higher nanohydroxyapatite ratio leads to smaller micropores. Larger micropores are obtained under lower fabriacating temperature. Cross-link causes micropores become smaller. Results of in vitro mouse MC3T3-E1 cell culture studies reveal a good biocompatibility for a high nanohydroxyapatite content scaffold. The regular and highly interconnected macropores ensure cells to migrate into the center of 3D scaffold.