Affiliation:
1. Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
2. School of Engineering, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK
Abstract
New scaffolds, based on whey protein isolate (WPI) and chitosan (CS), have been proposed and investigated as possible materials for use in osteochondral tissue repair. Two types of WPI-based hydrogels modified by CS were prepared: CS powder was incorporated into WPI in either dissolved or suspended powder form. The optimal chemical composition of the resulting WPI/CS hydrogels was chosen based on the morphology, structural properties, chemical stability, swelling ratio, wettability, mechanical properties, bioactivity, and cytotoxicity evaluation. The hydrogels with CS incorporated in powder form exhibited superior mechanical properties and higher porosity, whereas those with CS incorporated after dissolution showed enhanced wettability, which decreased with increasing CS content. The introduction of CS powder into the WPI matrix promoted apatite formation, as confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. In vitro cytotoxicity results confirmed the cytocompatibility of CS powder modified WPI hydrogels, suggesting their suitability as cell scaffolds. These findings demonstrate the promising potential of WPI/CS scaffolds for osteochondral tissue repair.
Funder
National Center for Research and Development, Poland
Program “Excellence Initiative—Research University” for the AGH University of Krakow
Subject
Polymers and Plastics,General Chemistry
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