Preparation and characteristics of hybrid scaffolds composed of beta-chitin and collagen.

Hybrid scaffolds composed of beta-chitin and collagen were prepared by combining salt-leaching and freeze-drying methods. The chitin scaffold used as a framework was easily formed into desired shapes with a uniformly distributed and interconnected pore structure with average pore size of 260-330 microm. The mechanical strength and the rate of biodegradation increased with the porosity, which could be modulated by the salt concentration. In addition, atelocollagen solution was introduced into the macropores of the chitin scaffold to improve cell attachment. Web-like collagen fibers fabricated between pores of chitin were produced by a 0.1 wt% collagen solution, whereas a 0.5 wt% collagen solution only coated the surface of the chitin scaffold. After 3 days of culture, fibroblasts cultured in collagen-coated scaffolds were attached at the place where the collagen was fabricated, whereas cells did not attach and aggregate on the scaffold of chitin alone. After 14 days, the fibroblasts showed a good affinity to and proliferation on all collagen-coated chitins.