Hydroxyapatite coating on chitosan-gluconic acid conjugate scaffolds

Bone plays a vital role in providing the structural framework of the human body and protecting internal organs. Porous scaffolds that promote cell proliferation is necessary to artificially create bone by tissue engineering approach. We previously developed chemical cross-linker-free chitosan-based scaffolds by freeze-thawing aqueous solutions of chitosan-gluconic acid conjugate (GC). In this study, we investigated whether or not the GC scaffolds could be coated with hydroxyapatite (HAp) that has osteoconductivity by immersing in simulated body fluids (SBF). HAp scarcely formed in GC scaffolds by the immersion. However, incorporation of silica nanoparticles into the scaffolds contributed to formation of HAp on the scaffolds. Human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 proliferated in the HAp/GC scaffolds. These results indicate that the HAp/GC scaffolds are useful for bone tissue engineering.