Characterization of Chitosan-Gelatin Blend Scaffolds

Vacuum freeze-drying was used to prepare chitosan-gelatin (CG) scaffolds from hydrogels, with glutaraldehyde (GA) used as a crosslinker. The effects of the changes in volume ratios of the 2 wt% CG and GA solutions on scaffold performance were studied. The ratio of chitosan to gelatin solution volumes, vr(C/G), was adjusted to 1/2 or 1/1, with the 0.25 wt% GA volume at 3, 6, or 8% of the CG/GA volume. Six groups of CG scaffolds were fabricated and the scaffolds performance compared. After the cells were incubated for 4 days, hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the spreading of human skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells on these scaffolds, with the MTT method also used to detect the cells proliferation. The inhibition zone method was used on cells cultures to determine the antibacterial properties of the scaffolds against S. aureus and E. coli. Scaffolds were also examined for degradation in lysozyme and their compression properties were tested after degradation. The results showed that the HaCaT cells grew well on these scaffolds and proliferated significantly, indicating that these scaffolds possessed good cytocompatibility. With increased chitosan volume, the antibacterial properties of the scaffolds against S. aureus increased, however, there was no significant change in the antibacterial properties toward E. coli. Increased volumes of chitosan and GA decreased the scaffolds degradation rates and improved the elastic compressive moduli of the scaffolds after degradation. The scaffolds in the vr(C/G) = 1/1, 8% GA group have potential application prospects in the field of skin regeneration.