Preparation of chitosan scaffold tube

Gang CHEN; Wenjun SHI

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Chitosan is commonly prepared using emulsion freeze-drying methods, which is complexly operated.

OBJECTIVE:

To introduce a simple methods for the preparation of chitosan and analyze its biological characteristic. DESIGN, TIME AND

SETTING:

Controlled observation experiments were carried out in the Central Laboratory, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medical University (Shenyang, Liaoning, China) from April to December in 2007. MATERIALS Ten Wistar rats of 8 weeks old and SPF grade were adopted. Chitosan powder in separated packs, with 99% purity and 99% deacetylation degree were the product of Shandong Jinan Ocean Bio-Product Co., Ltd. (China).

METHODS:

Acetic acid solution was added into chitosan to prepare 8% chitosan acetic acid hydrosol, which was then stayed for one day. Flowing the immersion into the hydrosol and immediate dislodgement, plastic tube was soaked in 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide for 3 minutes. Hydrosol out of the tube etiolated and coagulated into jells, the tube was removed when the jells were semi-dried. Subsequent to complete drying, chitosan tubes were prepared as an internal diameter of 5 mm, and were cut into many segmentations (length 2 mm). The prepared tubes were subcutaneously implanted into rat muscular tissues at right McBurney point, while rat left muscular tissues were only incised and sutured, taking as controls. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Gross observation of chitosan tube, degradation percentage of chitosan tubes in rat muscular tissue, and tissue inflammation change around chitosan tube detected by hematoxylin-eosin stain.

RESULTS:

The surface of chitosan tube was smooth and the tenacity was good. Intramuscular implantation test showed that 50% and 90% chitosan tubes were absorbed by tissues in 4 weeks and 8 weeks postoperatively. Inflammatory reaction surrounding tubes was decreased gradually.

CONCLUSION:

It gives a new kind of way to prepare chitosan tube, with few materials, low cost, simple operation and short time. The prepared chitosan tubes approve the good histocompatibility and biological degradation.