Physical properties and in vitro evaluation of collagen–chitosan–calcium phosphate microparticle-based scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

Due to limitations of bone autografts and allografts, synthetic bone grafts using osteoconductive biomaterials have been designed. In this study, collagen-chitosan-calcium phosphate microparticle-based scaffolds fused with glycolic acid were compared to their counterparts without collagen in terms of degradation, cytocompatibility, porosity, and Young's modulus. It was found that 26-30% collagen was incorporated and that hydroxyapatite was present. Moreover, there were no differences between control and collagen scaffolds in degradation, cytocompatibility, porosity, and Young's modulus. In general, scaffolds exhibited 23% porosity, 0.6-1.2 MPa Young's modulus, 23% degradation over 4 weeks, and supported a four to seven fold increase in osteoblast cell number over 7 days in culture. Collagen can be incorporated into these bone graft substitute scaffolds, which show an improved degradation profile.