【Abstract】 Objective To increase the viscosity of chitosan/glycerol phosphate（C/GP）and to improve its preparation technique in order to develop the appl ication range of C/GP. Methods Chitosan was treated by high-pressure vapor steril ization in order to prepare high viscous C/GP（HV-C/GP）and prepare C/GP by standard methods. The rheologic changes of HV-C/GP and C/GP were detected dynamically by the Gemini rheometer. The initial solution viscosity, gelation temperature and gelation time were evaluated after the viscosity of the materials were increased. Two gelation materials were placed into continuous flow thermostated cells under the same condition and harvest them at predetermined time intervals, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 10th and 25th days, then they were dried, weighed and the mass loss rate was calculated. Ultrastructure of the freeze-dried samples was visual ized by the scanning electron microscope. Results The initial viscosity of C/GP was 1.81 Pas and that of HV-C/GP was 17.24 Pas. The latter one increased 10 times as well as the former one. The gelation temperature of C/GP was 37°C and that of HV-C/GP was 34°C. There was no remarkable difference in gelation time between them. The mass loss rate of HV-C/GP at first day was 72.5% and at 25th days was 90.8%, while that of C/GP was 55.4% and 78.2%. Porous network structure was observed by the scanning electron microscope in both of them. The pore diameter of C/GP was 50-100 μm and that of HV-C/GP was 30-50 μm, which was obviously smaller than the former. Conclusion The viscosity of HV-C/GP prepared by improved technique obviously increases and the thermosensitivity has no significant changes. The degradation time of HV-C/GP in vitro lengthens. The micrographs show that the HV-C/GP gels are porous and the pore diameter are smaller than C/GP.
Objective To investigate the effects of chitosan on the cell cycle of the human fibroblasts and on the Ki-67 antigen expression in vitro and to investigate the mechanism of chitosan preventing the postoperative tissue adhesion. Methods The cultured fibroblasts were treated for 48 hours with 0，0.01，0.1，1.0，10.0 mg/ml of chitosan, respectively;then, the cell cycle of the fibroblasts was measured by the flow cytometry. The cultured fibroblasts were treated for 24 hours with the chitiosan at the above concentrations; then, the Ki-67 antigen in the cell nucleus was detected with the immunohistochemical staining toobserve its expression. Results The growth of the fibroblastswas obviously suppressed by chitosan, especially in the cell morphology. When the concentrations of chitosan were 1.0 mg/ml and 10.0 mg/ml, the percentages of the fibroblasts in the proliferation stage were 32.3%±5.2% and 14.7%±2.9%, respectively,which were significantly smaller than the percentage of the fibroblasts when the concentration of chitosan was 0 mg/ml (the control group) (41.9%±5.8%， P＜0.05). When the concentrations were 0.01 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml, the percentages of the fibroblasts in the proliferation stage were 39.0%±6.0% and 35.5%±3.4%, respectively, which were smaller than that of the control, but not significantly different from that of the control (P＞0.05). When the concentrations of chitosan were 0.1 mg/ml,1.0 mg/ml and 10.0 mg/ml, the percentages of the fibroblasts that had the positiveKi-67 antigen were 37.3%±3.4%, 30.5%±6.2% and 17.8%±3.0%，respectively, which were significantly smaller than that of the control (57.6%±8.9%， P＜0.05). When the concentration was 0.01 mg/ml, the percentage of the fibroblasts that had the positive Ki-67 antigen was 54.1%±8.0%, which was smaller than that of the control, but not significantly different from that of the control (P＞0.05). ConclusionChitosan can inhibit the proliferation of the fibroblasts and increase the percentage of the fibroblasts in the quiescent stage, which can be considered as one of the mechanisms that chitosan can prevent the postoperative tissueadhesion.
ObjectiveTo study the long-term prevention effect of self-developed chitosan electrospun membrane on cerebrospinal fluid leakage. MethodsTwenty-five healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were selected to prepare the bilateral dural defect (0.8 cm×0.8 cm in size) via midline incision of head.Defect of the right was repaired with chitosan electrospun membrane as the experimental group; defect of the left was not repaired as the control group.At 2-16 weeks after operation,one rabbit was sacrificed for the general observation of inflammatory response surrounding bone window and absorption of chitosan electrospun membrane; at 3 and 6 weeks after operation,5 rabbits were sacrificed for sampling to observe histological change and collagen expression by HE and Masson staining,and to measure the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by immunohistochemical staining. ResultsNo inflammatory reaction of swelling,exudation,and sppuration appeared in the skin and subcutaneous tissue after operation in 2 groups.There was no adhesion around the chitosan electrospun membrane,and new fiber membrane formed under the chitosan electrospun membrane in the experimental group; no cerebrospinal fluid leakage happened; the chitosan electrospun membrane was gradually degraded with time,and was completely absorbed at 16 weeks.There was uneven scar around the dural detect in control group.Histological observation showed less inflammatory cell infiltration in the experimental group,showing significant difference in the number of inflammatory cells compared with control group at 3,6 weeks (P<0.05); capillary,granulation tissue and collagen fiber massively proliferated; collagen fiber arranged in line,and there was a clear borderline between chitosan electrospun membrane and adjacent collagen fiber.The immunohistochemical staining showed that there were high expressions of bFGF and EGFR in the experimental group,and low expressions of bFGF and EGFR in the control group. ConclusionChitosan electrospun membrane for dural defect of rabbit can effectively reconstruct the dura,and it has exact long-term prevention effect on cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
Objective To study the allograft effect of two kinds of tissue engineered oral mucosa lamina proprias on skin fullthickness wounds. Methods The cultured Wistar rat oral mucosa fibroblasts (OMF) were incorporated into collag en or chitosancollagen to construct the tissue engineered oral mucosa laminaproprias, and then the OMFs were labeled with BrdU. The fullthickness round skin defects were made with a round knife (diameter, 0.8 cm) on the backs of 36 Wistar rats (2125 weeks old), which were divided into 2 experimental groups: the fibroblastpopulated collagen lattices (FPCL) group (grafted by FPCLs) and the fibroblastpopulated chitosan collagen lattices (FPCCL) group (grafted by FPCCLs), and the control group (only covered with gauges). All the wounds were observed by the naked eyes or the light microscope, and were measured 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postoperatively. Results There were no infection during the wound healing period. At 7 days after the grafting, the wounds in the 3 groups were covered by scab and/or gauze; at 14 days, the gauze and scab on the wounds in the three groups were all replaced by the new epidermis naturally except one scab each in the FPCCL group and the control groups,which was replaced at 17 days.All the centers of the new epidermis were measurable as the pink red points. At 21 days, all the new skins were smooth without hairs, and their color was similar to the normal one. At 4, 7, and 14 days,there was an indication that the wound diameters became significantly smaller in the three groups; but after the 14th day, there was no significant indication of this kind. At 7 days, the wound diameter in the FPCL group was significantly smaller than that in the FPCCL group and the control group (Plt;0.01). Under the lightmicroscope, at 4 days postoperatively, the decayed tissue on the surfaces of the recipient wounds in the FPCL group and the FPCCL group was separated from the lower granular tissue in which there were many inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, and new vessels. There was a similar-phenomenon in the control group. Each skin wound in the three groups was only partly keratinocyted at 7 days postoperativel y. The recipient wounds were wholly keratinocyted with when rete ridges observed at 14 and 21 days, but in the control group the wounds were keratinocyted with no rete ridges. Fibers in the new dermis were thin. The OMFs with Brdu appeared in the granular tissue and new dermis at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postoperatively, which could be illustr ated by the immunohistochemical staining. The positive OMFs and the granular tissue joined in the repair of the skin defe cts without any allergic reaction during the period of the wound healing. Conclusion The oral mucosa fibroblasts as the new seed cells can join i n the repair of the skin defects effectively and feasibly. The fibroblastpopul ated collagen lattices and the fibroblastpopulated chitosan collagen lat tices can repair skin defects effectively and feasibly, too. And the quality of the new skins was better in the two experimental groups than in the control group.
Objective To develop a novel porous three-dimensional scaffold and to investigate its physico-chemical properties for tissue engineering cartilage.Methods Refined 88% deacetylation degree chitosan was prepared and dissolved in 0.2 mol/L acetate acid and fully mixed with highly purified porcine type Ⅱcollagen in 0.5 mol/L acetate acid solution in a ratio of 4 to 1 (wt/wt). Freeze-drying process was employed to fabricate the composite scaffold. The construct wascross-linked by use of 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and Nhydroxysuccinimide (NHS). A mechanical tester was utilized to determine the tensilestrength change before and after cross-linking. The microstructure was observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The lysozyme degradation was performedto evaluate the degradability of the scaffold in vitro. Results A bulk scaffold with desired configuration was obtained. The mechanical test showed that the crosslinking treatment could enhance the mechanical strength of the scaffold. The SEM results revealed that the two constituents evenly distributed in the scaffold and that the matrix was porous, sponge-like with interconnected pore sizing 100250 μm. In vitro lysozyme degradation indicated that crosslinked or uncross-linked composite scaffolds had faster degradation rate than the chitosan matrix. Conclusion Chitosan and typeⅡcollagen can be developed into a porous three-dimensional scaffold. The related physico-chemical tests suggest that the composite socaffold meets requirements for tissue engineered scaffold and may serve as an alternative cellcarrier for tissue engineering cartilage.
Chitosan is a kind of biological material with good histocompatibility and gradual biodegradability in vivo. It has no toxicity or side-effect. For its gradual degradation, chitosan and adriamycin were mixed and formed drug delivery system (DDS). The release test of DDS and exudant of DDS in inhibiting OS-116 were examined in vitro. The results were as following: the DDS could release adriamycin in slow and stable way. The SO-116 inhidition rate of the exudant of the DDS on the 1st, 20th, 40th and 60th day was 58.11%, 36.48%, 24.32% and 21.62% respectively. It was concluded that the drug delivery system was a slow release system. It could maintain the concentration of adriamycin in a certain level. It was also suggested that the chitosan was a good carrier for slow release of chemotherapeutic drug in local therapy for postoperative treatment of bone tumor.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of the chitosan/polyethylene glycols-succinate/ mitomycin C (CH/PEG-SA/MMC) film on epidural scarring tissues. Methods According to a specific proportion of respective materials, the film of CH/PEG-SA/MMC was developed under some condition. Thirty SD rats were selected and randomized into 6 groups with 5 rats in each group. A rat model of lumbar laminectomy was used. The amount of 20 mg of the CH film was implanted into the animals in group I, 20 mg of CH/PEG film in group II, 20 mg of CH/PEGSA film in group III, 0.05 mg/mL of the MMC soaking for 5 minutes in group IV, 20 mg of CH/PEG-SA/MMC film in group V, and nothing was done in group VI. Specimens were harvested 4 weeks after the above procedures and were then subjected to immunohistochemical and histological examinations to compare their therapeutic effects on epidural cicatricial tissues. Results All rats were in good conditions after operation, without gait abnormal ity, restlessness, infection and death. There was no significant difference among the 6 groups in the postoperative Rydell score (P lt; 0.05). The content of hydroxyprol ine in groups I, II, III, IV, V and VI was (0.570 8 ± 0.345 0), (0.728 6 ± 0.150 6), (0.553 4 ± 0.122 3), (0.313 3 ± 0.106 4), (0.261 9 ± 0.102 1)and (1.020 1 ± 0.120 6) μg/ mg, respectively. There was a significant difference between groups IV, V and groups I, II, III (P lt; 0.05), and there was significant difference between group VI and the rest 5 groups (P lt; 0.05). According to the histological observation, group V had less collagenous fiber parallel ing the dura mater, with few inflammatory cells infiltration, with few capillary vessels and no reaction of macrophages. Conclusion CH/PEG-SA/MMC films can effectively reduce the amount of Hyp in epidural scarring tissues after lumbar laminectomy and therefore is a good treating method in preventing scarring tissue adhesion.
OBJECTIVE: To prepare chitosan-gelatin/hydroxyapatite (CS-Gel/HA) composite scaffolds, and to investigate the influence of components and preparing conditions to their micromorphology. METHODS: The CS-Gel/HA composite scaffolds were prepared by phase-separation method. Micromorphology and porosity were detected by using scanning electron microscope and liquid displacement method respectively. RESULTS: Porous CS-Gel/HA composite scaffolds could be prepared by phase-separation method, and their density and porosity could be controlled by adjusting components and quenching temperature. CONCLUSION: The study suggests the feasibility of using CS-Gel/HA composite scaffolds for the transplantation of autogenous osteoblasts to regenerate bone tissue.
Objective To prepare chitosan microcarriers and to use it to cultivate rat primary hepatocytes. Methods The crosslinked chitosan microcarrier was prepared by the reaction of glutaraldehyde with chitosan. Various factors that influence the preparation were studied and the reaction conditions were optimized. Rat primary hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarrier were observed by using phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. Results Chitosan microcarriers with good properties could be prepared by adjusting the concentration of chitosan solution and the quantity of glutaraldehyde. Rat hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarriers retained the spherical shape as they have in vivo. And albumin secretion can last over one week. The highest albumin secretion rate reached 26.7μg/24h/ml. Conclusion Chitosan microcarriers is a promising scaffold for hepatocyte attachment, which can be used in bioartificial liver support system.
OBJECTIVE To study the clinical effect of chitosan on prevention of elbow adhesion after elbow arthrolysis. METHODS Twenty six patients with elbow ankylosis were performed elbow arthrolysis, which divided into two groups, in chitosan group, 12 patients were injected 2% chitosan into the elbow joint cavity, and no chitosan used in the other 14 patients as control group. The average range of extension and flexion of elbow joint was detected to evaluate the clinical results. RESULTS All patients were followed up 8 to 51 months, averaged 24 months. In the chitosan group, the average range of extension and flexion of elbow joint was restored to 92.9 degrees +/- 20.9 degrees, with an average increase of 55.0 degrees +/- 15.9 degrees compared with preoperation. In the control group, the average range of extension and flexion of elbow joint was restored to 75.4 degrees +/- 17.5 degrees, with an average increase of 38.2 degrees +/- 11.9 degrees. The outcome showed significant difference between the chitosan group and the control group (P lt; 0.01). CONCLUSION Chitosan can prevent or reduce elbow adhesion after elbow arthrolysis.