Preparation and characterization of hyaluronan/chitosan scaffold crosslinked by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide

A novel biocompatible scaffold was prepared by cross-linking hyaluronan (HA) and chitosan (CS). The carboxyl groups of HA were activated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and then crosslinked with amino groups of CS by forming amide bonds. The HA/CS scaffold thus prepared was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry. FTIR spectra showed that the absorbance of the amide (1550 cm(-1)) and carbonyl (1633 cm(-1)) bond in the cross-linked scaffold was stronger than that in HA or CS. SEM micrographs showed that the crosslinked scaffold produced at low EDC concentration had an intertwisted ribbon-like microstructure, while the product prepared at higher EDC concentration had a porous structure. The concentration of EDC in the reaction system greatly affected the structure and properties of the HA/CS scaffold. The prepared scaffold could strongly resist degradation by hyaluronidase, free radicals in vitro and stress. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry