Biocompatible Fe3O4/chitosan scaffolds with high magnetism.

Durable and biocompatible magnetic scaffolds prepared by simple approaches are important for the development of tissue engineering. In this work, by freeze-drying method and without using any crosslinker, we successfully fabricated Fe3O4/chitosan magnetic scaffolds that belong to hard magnetic materials and are stable in physiological fluid. In vitro biocompatibility assay showed that mouse mesenchymal progenitor cells grow normally on the surface of the scaffolds. So these magnetic scaffolds have potentials to be used in tissue engineering as implants that independently direct drug targeting.