# Characterization and Cell Culture of a Grafted Chitosan Scaffold for Tissue Engineering

Authors: Wen-Chuan Hsieh; Jiun-Jia Liau; Yi-Jhong Li
Journal: International Journal of Polymer Science
 (2015)

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## Abstract

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was grafted to chitosan to form a porous scaffold.  The PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was then observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The water absorbency of PVA-g-chitosan was increased 370% by grafting. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of the material revealed that the 3D scaffold is highly porous when formed using a homogenizer at 300 rpm. Compression testing demonstrated that as the amount of chitosan increases, the strength of the 3D scaffold strength reached showed that, by increasing the amount of chitosan, the strength of the 3D scaffold could be increased to 16 × 10−1 MPa. Over 35 days of enzymatic degradation, the 3D scaffold was degraded by various enzymes at rates of up to 10%. In vitro tests showed good cell proliferation and growth in the 3D scaffold.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Chitin can be extracted and purified from the shells of shrimp, crab, and other crustaceans and from the cell walls of some fungi. Chitin is a deposit of natural cationic polysaccharides, and its abundance is second only to that of cellulose. Chemical modifications of the amino and hydroxyl groups in its molecular structure can easily produce other derivatives. Chitosan can be formed into gels, orbs, fibers, and membranes for various uses. Moreover, because chitosan is easily obtained and conforms to the requirements of many tissue engineering applications, it can be implanted into the human body without harm. Accordingly, the material is widely used in tissue engineering [1].However, since chitosan alone is insufficiently strong to support cell growth, a method of enhancing its mechanical strength is needed. Most of the numerous studies of direct applications of chitosan in 3D scaffolds have focused on blending 3D composite scaffolds with other materials for permanent implantation in the human body [2, 3]. Chitosan has been chemically modified for use in 3D scaffolds such as chitosan hydrogels, chitosan sponges, and 2D scaffolds such as chitosan films, nanofiber membranes, by way of sulfonation, phosphorylation, quaternization, and cross-linking methods [4–11]. However, this study is the first to apply a grafting method in a 3D scaffold.Another biodegradable polymer used in tissue engineering is PVA. Production methods include chemical synthesis [1, 2], melt-molding particulate-leaching [3], freeze-drying [12–15], and electrospinning to form nanofibrous scaffolds [16, 17]. Therefore, the goal of this study was to exploit an existing, inexpensive, and biodegradable material to form a 3D scaffold for use in regenerative medicine. Because PVA is easy to obtain and highly biodegradable and biocompatible, PVA and chitosan are considered herein. Chitosan and PVA both are biodegradable, biocompatible, and easy to obtain. No complex or expensive equipment is needed. In fact, a chemical grafting method can be used to form the 3D scaffold and to improve its mechanical properties and formation. This study elucidated the structural changes in this material, including its swelling, formation, mechanical properties, biodegradability, and porosity. Finally, NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells were transplanted and cultivated to form a 3D scaffold. The potential use of the material for tissue engineering was then evaluated.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Materials

#### 2.1.1. Materials

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, average molecular weight (Mw) 85,000–124,000 g/mol, 87–89%, and was hydrolyzed and used without further treatment or purification. Chitosan [poly(β-(1-4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose)] (75% degree of deacetylation) and formaldehyde were obtained from the Sigma-Aldrich. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was purchased from The First Chemical Company. All materials and chemicals were used as acquired with no further processing.


#### 2.1.2. Preparation of 3D Scaffold

The chitosan powder (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 g) (name: CH25, CH50, and CH75) was separately dissolved in 1% acetic acid (20 mL) at room temperature. The PVA (4 g) was dissolved completely in RO water (20 mL) by heating. The chitosan solution was added to the PVA solution and mixed uniformly with a homogenizer at 300 rpm and at 90°C for 30 minutes until the mixture was in a colloidal state. After adding H2SO4 (10 mL) and formaldehyde (5 mL) and stirring, the sample was cooled to room temperature. Finally, the sample was poured into a tube and heated in an oven at 60°C for 50 minutes. The 3D scaffold was washed with water to remove residual agents.


### 2.2. Methods

#### 2.2.1. SEM Analysis

A field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM Hitachi-4700, Japan) was used for morphological study of the 3D scaffold. The blank sample was completely dried and then fastened to a copper base with conductive tape. After plating with platinum in a vacuum deposition machine, the sample was placed on the sample base of the FE-SEM for observation under an accelerating voltage of 10 kV at a working distance (WD) of 15 mm. All enzyme-degraded samples were photographed after the treatment processes. The 3D scaffold sample with the cultured cells was dehydrated in a paraformaldehyde solution for 12 hours. The dehydrated sample was then freeze-dried, and the surface of the sample was analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) (HORIBA, Japan).


#### 2.2.2. FT-IR Analysis

The specific chemical groups of the graft scaffolds were analyzed with FT-IR (Perkin Elmer FT-IR Spectrum One, USA). The PVA, chitosan, and grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold were dehydrated in an oven and then analyzed by FT-IR (powder was using KBr and solid was using ATR method). The 400 cm−1–4000 cm−1 spectrum was scanned and recorded to identify the effects of the above process on functional groups in the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds.


#### 2.2.3. Compression Strength Test

The mechanical properties of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds on the wetting state were examined by measuring compression strength (Shimadzu EZ tensile, Japan) under JIS K7181 (ASTM 695, ISO 604). During the compressive strength tests, stress and strain responses were also monitored.Compression strength was tested inψ 14 mm ×H 10 mm samples under a load of 500 N and at a rate of 5 mm/min. Variations in the strain and stress of the scaffold were investigated as the maximum breaking strength was approached. Five samples were tested to obtain an average value and standard deviation.


#### 2.2.4. Porosity

The liquid displacement method was used to measure the porosity of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold [18]. The volume of the scaffold before it was submerged in water for 30 minutes was designated V1. The total volume of the liquid and the liquid impregnated scaffold was designated V2. After removal of the liquid impregnated scaffold, the remaining liquid volume was designated V3, and the porosity was calculated as follows:(1)Porosity%=V1-V3V2-V3×100.


#### 2.2.5. Swelling Ratio of PVA-g-Chitosan Scaffold

The grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was oven dried at 50°C. After drying in an oven at 50°C, the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was immersed in distilled water at room temperature for 30 minutes. Excess water was wiped from the swollen saturated PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold, and the swelling ratio was calculated using the following formula:(2)Swellingratio%=Gs-GiGi×100,where Gi represents the initial weight of the freeze-dried PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold and Gs is the weight of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold in the swollen state.


#### 2.2.6. Biodegradability

The next test measured the biodegradability of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold over time. Two enzymes were used to simulate the environment in the human body: lipase (20μg/mL) and lysozyme (20 μg/mL). Each processed 3D scaffold (approximate thickness, 5 mm) was placed in a 15 mL centrifuge tube with 1 mL of PBS buffer solution that could be used with the various enzymes. Varying concentrations of the enzymes were then added. For thein vitro test, the centrifuge tube was placed in a 37°C 100 rpm vibrating thermostatic bath for 28 days. The 3D scaffold was removed every 7 days and dried in a 25°C environment. After each drying step, the weight loss was measured using the following formula:(3)Weightloss%=W0-WtW0×100%,where W0 and Wt are the scaffold weights before and after the degradation, respectively.


#### 2.2.7.In Vitro Test

The NIH3T3 fibroblasts were cultured in a Petri dish (diameter, 10 cm). The culture liquid contained DMEM (Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium), 10% fortified bovine calf serum (FBS), and 1% penicillin streptomycin solution. The pH value was maintained at 7.4. The incubator settings were 37°C with 5% CO2 and 95% relative humidity. The cell culture of PVA-g-chitosan scaffold cycles lasted for three days. A growth curve was plotted based on the changes in cell number, which was counted every 24 hours.The cells that detached well when trypsinized were placed in a 15 mL centrifuge; the medium was added in an amount equal to that of trypsin. The mixture was centrifuged at 300 rcf and 4°C for 5 minutes. After removing the supernatant, 2 mL of medium was added to form the cell solution. Approximatelyψ 14 mm ×H 1 mm of scaffold was placed in each well of a 24-well plate, and 500 λ of cell solution was added to the surface of the 3D scaffold in each well. After 30-minute incubation with 5% CO2 at 95% relative humidity at 37°C, the scaffold was removed from the incubator and placed into another well with no additional agents; 2 mL of medium was added to initiate the cell attachment experiment. After 3 days of culturing, the test sample for EDS analysis was prepared by immersing the scaffold containing the cells in 5 mL 10% formaldehyde overnight to fix the cells to the scaffold.


## 2.1. Materials

### 2.1.1. Materials

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, average molecular weight (Mw) 85,000–124,000 g/mol, 87–89%, and was hydrolyzed and used without further treatment or purification. Chitosan [poly(β-(1-4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose)] (75% degree of deacetylation) and formaldehyde were obtained from the Sigma-Aldrich. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was purchased from The First Chemical Company. All materials and chemicals were used as acquired with no further processing.


### 2.1.2. Preparation of 3D Scaffold

The chitosan powder (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 g) (name: CH25, CH50, and CH75) was separately dissolved in 1% acetic acid (20 mL) at room temperature. The PVA (4 g) was dissolved completely in RO water (20 mL) by heating. The chitosan solution was added to the PVA solution and mixed uniformly with a homogenizer at 300 rpm and at 90°C for 30 minutes until the mixture was in a colloidal state. After adding H2SO4 (10 mL) and formaldehyde (5 mL) and stirring, the sample was cooled to room temperature. Finally, the sample was poured into a tube and heated in an oven at 60°C for 50 minutes. The 3D scaffold was washed with water to remove residual agents.


## 2.1.1. Materials

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, average molecular weight (Mw) 85,000–124,000 g/mol, 87–89%, and was hydrolyzed and used without further treatment or purification. Chitosan [poly(β-(1-4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose)] (75% degree of deacetylation) and formaldehyde were obtained from the Sigma-Aldrich. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was purchased from The First Chemical Company. All materials and chemicals were used as acquired with no further processing.


## 2.1.2. Preparation of 3D Scaffold

The chitosan powder (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 g) (name: CH25, CH50, and CH75) was separately dissolved in 1% acetic acid (20 mL) at room temperature. The PVA (4 g) was dissolved completely in RO water (20 mL) by heating. The chitosan solution was added to the PVA solution and mixed uniformly with a homogenizer at 300 rpm and at 90°C for 30 minutes until the mixture was in a colloidal state. After adding H2SO4 (10 mL) and formaldehyde (5 mL) and stirring, the sample was cooled to room temperature. Finally, the sample was poured into a tube and heated in an oven at 60°C for 50 minutes. The 3D scaffold was washed with water to remove residual agents.


## 2.2. Methods

### 2.2.1. SEM Analysis

A field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM Hitachi-4700, Japan) was used for morphological study of the 3D scaffold. The blank sample was completely dried and then fastened to a copper base with conductive tape. After plating with platinum in a vacuum deposition machine, the sample was placed on the sample base of the FE-SEM for observation under an accelerating voltage of 10 kV at a working distance (WD) of 15 mm. All enzyme-degraded samples were photographed after the treatment processes. The 3D scaffold sample with the cultured cells was dehydrated in a paraformaldehyde solution for 12 hours. The dehydrated sample was then freeze-dried, and the surface of the sample was analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) (HORIBA, Japan).


### 2.2.2. FT-IR Analysis

The specific chemical groups of the graft scaffolds were analyzed with FT-IR (Perkin Elmer FT-IR Spectrum One, USA). The PVA, chitosan, and grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold were dehydrated in an oven and then analyzed by FT-IR (powder was using KBr and solid was using ATR method). The 400 cm−1–4000 cm−1 spectrum was scanned and recorded to identify the effects of the above process on functional groups in the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds.


### 2.2.3. Compression Strength Test

The mechanical properties of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds on the wetting state were examined by measuring compression strength (Shimadzu EZ tensile, Japan) under JIS K7181 (ASTM 695, ISO 604). During the compressive strength tests, stress and strain responses were also monitored.Compression strength was tested inψ 14 mm ×H 10 mm samples under a load of 500 N and at a rate of 5 mm/min. Variations in the strain and stress of the scaffold were investigated as the maximum breaking strength was approached. Five samples were tested to obtain an average value and standard deviation.


### 2.2.4. Porosity

The liquid displacement method was used to measure the porosity of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold [18]. The volume of the scaffold before it was submerged in water for 30 minutes was designated V1. The total volume of the liquid and the liquid impregnated scaffold was designated V2. After removal of the liquid impregnated scaffold, the remaining liquid volume was designated V3, and the porosity was calculated as follows:(1)Porosity%=V1-V3V2-V3×100.


### 2.2.5. Swelling Ratio of PVA-g-Chitosan Scaffold

The grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was oven dried at 50°C. After drying in an oven at 50°C, the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was immersed in distilled water at room temperature for 30 minutes. Excess water was wiped from the swollen saturated PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold, and the swelling ratio was calculated using the following formula:(2)Swellingratio%=Gs-GiGi×100,where Gi represents the initial weight of the freeze-dried PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold and Gs is the weight of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold in the swollen state.


### 2.2.6. Biodegradability

The next test measured the biodegradability of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold over time. Two enzymes were used to simulate the environment in the human body: lipase (20μg/mL) and lysozyme (20 μg/mL). Each processed 3D scaffold (approximate thickness, 5 mm) was placed in a 15 mL centrifuge tube with 1 mL of PBS buffer solution that could be used with the various enzymes. Varying concentrations of the enzymes were then added. For thein vitro test, the centrifuge tube was placed in a 37°C 100 rpm vibrating thermostatic bath for 28 days. The 3D scaffold was removed every 7 days and dried in a 25°C environment. After each drying step, the weight loss was measured using the following formula:(3)Weightloss%=W0-WtW0×100%,where W0 and Wt are the scaffold weights before and after the degradation, respectively.


### 2.2.7.In Vitro Test

The NIH3T3 fibroblasts were cultured in a Petri dish (diameter, 10 cm). The culture liquid contained DMEM (Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium), 10% fortified bovine calf serum (FBS), and 1% penicillin streptomycin solution. The pH value was maintained at 7.4. The incubator settings were 37°C with 5% CO2 and 95% relative humidity. The cell culture of PVA-g-chitosan scaffold cycles lasted for three days. A growth curve was plotted based on the changes in cell number, which was counted every 24 hours.The cells that detached well when trypsinized were placed in a 15 mL centrifuge; the medium was added in an amount equal to that of trypsin. The mixture was centrifuged at 300 rcf and 4°C for 5 minutes. After removing the supernatant, 2 mL of medium was added to form the cell solution. Approximatelyψ 14 mm ×H 1 mm of scaffold was placed in each well of a 24-well plate, and 500 λ of cell solution was added to the surface of the 3D scaffold in each well. After 30-minute incubation with 5% CO2 at 95% relative humidity at 37°C, the scaffold was removed from the incubator and placed into another well with no additional agents; 2 mL of medium was added to initiate the cell attachment experiment. After 3 days of culturing, the test sample for EDS analysis was prepared by immersing the scaffold containing the cells in 5 mL 10% formaldehyde overnight to fix the cells to the scaffold.


## 2.2.1. SEM Analysis

A field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM Hitachi-4700, Japan) was used for morphological study of the 3D scaffold. The blank sample was completely dried and then fastened to a copper base with conductive tape. After plating with platinum in a vacuum deposition machine, the sample was placed on the sample base of the FE-SEM for observation under an accelerating voltage of 10 kV at a working distance (WD) of 15 mm. All enzyme-degraded samples were photographed after the treatment processes. The 3D scaffold sample with the cultured cells was dehydrated in a paraformaldehyde solution for 12 hours. The dehydrated sample was then freeze-dried, and the surface of the sample was analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) (HORIBA, Japan).


## 2.2.2. FT-IR Analysis

The specific chemical groups of the graft scaffolds were analyzed with FT-IR (Perkin Elmer FT-IR Spectrum One, USA). The PVA, chitosan, and grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold were dehydrated in an oven and then analyzed by FT-IR (powder was using KBr and solid was using ATR method). The 400 cm−1–4000 cm−1 spectrum was scanned and recorded to identify the effects of the above process on functional groups in the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds.


## 2.2.3. Compression Strength Test

The mechanical properties of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds on the wetting state were examined by measuring compression strength (Shimadzu EZ tensile, Japan) under JIS K7181 (ASTM 695, ISO 604). During the compressive strength tests, stress and strain responses were also monitored.Compression strength was tested inψ 14 mm ×H 10 mm samples under a load of 500 N and at a rate of 5 mm/min. Variations in the strain and stress of the scaffold were investigated as the maximum breaking strength was approached. Five samples were tested to obtain an average value and standard deviation.


## 2.2.4. Porosity

The liquid displacement method was used to measure the porosity of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold [18]. The volume of the scaffold before it was submerged in water for 30 minutes was designated V1. The total volume of the liquid and the liquid impregnated scaffold was designated V2. After removal of the liquid impregnated scaffold, the remaining liquid volume was designated V3, and the porosity was calculated as follows:(1)Porosity%=V1-V3V2-V3×100.


## 2.2.5. Swelling Ratio of PVA-g-Chitosan Scaffold

The grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was oven dried at 50°C. After drying in an oven at 50°C, the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was immersed in distilled water at room temperature for 30 minutes. Excess water was wiped from the swollen saturated PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold, and the swelling ratio was calculated using the following formula:(2)Swellingratio%=Gs-GiGi×100,where Gi represents the initial weight of the freeze-dried PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold and Gs is the weight of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold in the swollen state.


## 2.2.6. Biodegradability

The next test measured the biodegradability of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold over time. Two enzymes were used to simulate the environment in the human body: lipase (20μg/mL) and lysozyme (20 μg/mL). Each processed 3D scaffold (approximate thickness, 5 mm) was placed in a 15 mL centrifuge tube with 1 mL of PBS buffer solution that could be used with the various enzymes. Varying concentrations of the enzymes were then added. For thein vitro test, the centrifuge tube was placed in a 37°C 100 rpm vibrating thermostatic bath for 28 days. The 3D scaffold was removed every 7 days and dried in a 25°C environment. After each drying step, the weight loss was measured using the following formula:(3)Weightloss%=W0-WtW0×100%,where W0 and Wt are the scaffold weights before and after the degradation, respectively.


## 2.2.7.In Vitro Test

The NIH3T3 fibroblasts were cultured in a Petri dish (diameter, 10 cm). The culture liquid contained DMEM (Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium), 10% fortified bovine calf serum (FBS), and 1% penicillin streptomycin solution. The pH value was maintained at 7.4. The incubator settings were 37°C with 5% CO2 and 95% relative humidity. The cell culture of PVA-g-chitosan scaffold cycles lasted for three days. A growth curve was plotted based on the changes in cell number, which was counted every 24 hours.The cells that detached well when trypsinized were placed in a 15 mL centrifuge; the medium was added in an amount equal to that of trypsin. The mixture was centrifuged at 300 rcf and 4°C for 5 minutes. After removing the supernatant, 2 mL of medium was added to form the cell solution. Approximatelyψ 14 mm ×H 1 mm of scaffold was placed in each well of a 24-well plate, and 500 λ of cell solution was added to the surface of the 3D scaffold in each well. After 30-minute incubation with 5% CO2 at 95% relative humidity at 37°C, the scaffold was removed from the incubator and placed into another well with no additional agents; 2 mL of medium was added to initiate the cell attachment experiment. After 3 days of culturing, the test sample for EDS analysis was prepared by immersing the scaffold containing the cells in 5 mL 10% formaldehyde overnight to fix the cells to the scaffold.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. FT-IR Analysis of PVA-g-Chitosan

The FT-IR was used to confirm the specific chemical groups of grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. Figure1 displays the FT-IR spectra of PVA, chitosan, and the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. The observed absorption peaks mainly of PVA were 2941, 1000 cm−1 of CH2; 1734 cm−1 of C=O, 3383; and 1150 cm−1 of OH, 1098 cm−1 of C–O, and 850 cm−1 of C–C [5, 11]. The functional groups of PVA in the FT-IR spectrum of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold were also observed. The major absorption peaks of chitosan were 1654 cm−1 of C=O-NHR and 1540 cm−1 of –NH2 [19, 20]. The FT-IR peak near 3000 cm−1 was weaker in the CH2 group of chitosan and grafted sample compared to the CH2 group of PVA. The absorption peaks of PVA-g-chitosan at 800–1700 cm−1 were characterized for both PVA and chitosan. The grafting agent formaldehyde (aldehyde group) is known to react with PVA and chitosan (hydroxyl groups) in the presence of an acid catalyst and form 1,3-dioxane rings [21–23]. The successful preparation of the PVA-g-chitosan was confirmed by the significant changes in the major FT-IR absorption peaks of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan upon grafting.Figure 1
FT-IR spectrum of PVA, chitosan, and PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold.


### 3.2. Morphology of 3D Scaffold

Because of its insufficient strength when incubation time is prolonged, chitosan requires a blend/graft material to support the cell culture. Therefore, the PVA was combined with chitosan to improve its physical properties [8]. The morphology of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was then observed by SEM. Figure 2 is a SEM image of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. The photographs show the distribution of the pores of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. The PVA-g-chitosan scaffold in Figure 1 was treated with chemistry foaming agent, which was stirred during the manufacturing process. The resulting 3D scaffolds samples had pore sizes of CH25: 452 μm, CH50: 428 μm, and CH75: 280 μm. Apparently, the high concentration of chitosan decreased the pore size in the 3D scaffold.Figure 2
SEM image of various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds. (Chitosan ratio: CH25 is 0.25 g, CH50 is 0.50 g, and CH75 is 0.75 g.)


### 3.3. Porosity and Swelling Ratio

Figure3 presents the porosities (■) and swelling ratios (□) of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds under various concentrations. Porosity is calculated from (1) in Section 2.2.4. Porosity was measured at three different concentrations of the chitosan used to form the 3D scaffold: 85%, 75%, and 72%. Figure 3 shows that porosity decreases as the chitosan concentration increases [24]. Notably, regardless of concentration, a high porosity (above 70%) could still be maintained in the chitosan scaffolds by controlling the concentration of chitosan and the stirring rate of homogenizer. These materials were then used for cell cultivation to evaluate their physical properties.Figure 3
Porosity and swelling ratio of various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds. The above histogram is the actual forming figure of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold.The water absorption of the raw materials affected not only the scaffold shape, but also the cell growth. If the cell cultivation processes used in tissue engineering have a long culture time and use highly absorbent materials, the scaffold can become saturated with water and expand, causing deformation and affecting the proliferation and division of cells.Figure3 is a diagram of the water absorption in various concentrations of chitosan scaffolds at 300 rpm stirring rates. The (□) represents the swelling ratio. The above histogram is an actual photograph of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold during formation. The change ratio of water absorption is the water absorption in relation to the chitosan concentration, which reveals the effects of chitosan concentration on water absorption. The diagram illustrates that, as the concentration of the chitosan solution increases, the change ratio of water absorption decreases. When the ratio of PVA to chitosan was 1 : 0.25 (CH25), the swelling ratio was 370%. As the chitosan concentration increased (CH75), the absorption of water considerably decreased to 300% because, at a high concentration of chitosan, the volume occupied per unit area is high. Therefore, water absorption is much lower than that at low chitosan concentrations.


### 3.4. Compression Test

During cell cultivation, 3D scaffolds must have sufficient strength to support cell attachment. However, a water-swellable 3D scaffold can damage the frame structure of the cell culture when using liquid medium. Therefore, 3D scaffolds must withstand moderate intensity force.Figure4 shows the mechanical properties of the 3D scaffold. As the chitosan concentration increased, the mechanical strength of the 3D scaffold decreased. The mechanical strength of 3D scaffolds depends on the chitosan concentration because a 3D scaffold with a high concentration has a hard and brittle structure that can withstand lower mechanical strength. The compression strength of CH25 PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds reached 16 × 10−1 MPa. In an earlier study, the authors found that the compression strength of pure chitosan 3D scaffold [25] was much lower than that of grafted 3D scaffold.Figure 4
The mechanical properties of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds.


### 3.5. Biodegradability of 3D Scaffold

For tissue engineering, the ultimate goal for applications of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds is natural disintegration as the cells grow. The time to degradation naturally affects cell growth conditions. The environment of the human body was simulated by using the enzymes lipase and lysozyme to evaluate the biodegradability of the scaffold. Both enzymes are hydrolases. Lipase is a lipid-digesting enzyme that mainly affects carbonyl groups, whereas lysozyme is a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme that can hydrolyze the bindings between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine in some bacterial cell walls. Therefore, in this study, the enzymes lipase and lysozyme were used as degradation enzymes to investigate the time course of degradation of 3D scaffolds.Figure5 shows the enzymatic degradation experiments with scaffolds of various chitosan concentrations. The figure shows that the weight loss of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold (CH25, CH50, and CH75) all increases as time increases. Moreover, degradation slightly decelerates as chitosan concentration increases. For example, the weight loss in the CH75 PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds (●) was almost 10% after 35 days. A possible explanation for the enzyme degradation rate of chitosan scaffolds is that only approximately 10% of the functional active sites are related to lysozyme and lipase. Most of its functional sites are β-(1-4)-glycosidic bonds between polysaccharides. The deacetylation of the chitosan used in this research approximated 75%. Moreover, the grafting of PVA and chitosan also affected the degradation rate in the scaffolds, and the weight of chitosan scaffolds at equilibrium is reduced by 10%. The PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds (CH25) without enzyme added in the PBS solution (▲) revealed a weight loss approximating 3%, which was consistent with other reports [26].Figure 5
Weight loss of various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds in the various enzymatic degradation at 35 days.Figure6 shows a SEM micrograph of a chitosan scaffold (CH50) after 35 days of enzymatic degradation at 37°C. Figures 6(b) and 6(c) clearly show the partial breakdown of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds and surface degradation after enzymatic treatment for 35 days. These experimental results suggest that the grafted 3D scaffold can be degraded by enzymesin vivo and can thus be used in tissue engineering.Figure 6
SEM image of degraded PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds (CH50) by enzyme ((a) original material, (b) lipase, and (c) lysozyme).
(a)
(b)
(c)


### 3.6.In Vitro Test

To elucidate the cell culturing conditions of a 3D scaffold, mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts were implanted into a 3D scaffold, and the consequent cell growth was monitored. Figure7 plots the growth curves of the mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells implanted in the 3D scaffold. As the culture time increased, the cell number increased up to a maximum of 15 to 25 × 104 in 120 hours, which indicated that the material supported cell proliferation. Figure 8 shows electron microscope SEM and EDS diagrams of cells implanted in the 3D scaffold (b) in comparison with those in the original 3D scaffold (a). The photograph reveals significant cell growth. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of phosphorus and calcium, which confirmed the successful growth of cells on the grafted PVA-g-starch 3D scaffold.Figure 7
Cell proliferation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts cell on various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds as a function of time.Figure 8
SEM images of NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells on grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds after 5 days of culture ((a) original material, (b) materials with cells, ×3000 and EDS analysis).
(a)
(b)


## 3.1. FT-IR Analysis of PVA-g-Chitosan

The FT-IR was used to confirm the specific chemical groups of grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. Figure1 displays the FT-IR spectra of PVA, chitosan, and the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. The observed absorption peaks mainly of PVA were 2941, 1000 cm−1 of CH2; 1734 cm−1 of C=O, 3383; and 1150 cm−1 of OH, 1098 cm−1 of C–O, and 850 cm−1 of C–C [5, 11]. The functional groups of PVA in the FT-IR spectrum of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold were also observed. The major absorption peaks of chitosan were 1654 cm−1 of C=O-NHR and 1540 cm−1 of –NH2 [19, 20]. The FT-IR peak near 3000 cm−1 was weaker in the CH2 group of chitosan and grafted sample compared to the CH2 group of PVA. The absorption peaks of PVA-g-chitosan at 800–1700 cm−1 were characterized for both PVA and chitosan. The grafting agent formaldehyde (aldehyde group) is known to react with PVA and chitosan (hydroxyl groups) in the presence of an acid catalyst and form 1,3-dioxane rings [21–23]. The successful preparation of the PVA-g-chitosan was confirmed by the significant changes in the major FT-IR absorption peaks of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan upon grafting.Figure 1
FT-IR spectrum of PVA, chitosan, and PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold.


## 3.2. Morphology of 3D Scaffold

Because of its insufficient strength when incubation time is prolonged, chitosan requires a blend/graft material to support the cell culture. Therefore, the PVA was combined with chitosan to improve its physical properties [8]. The morphology of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold was then observed by SEM. Figure 2 is a SEM image of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. The photographs show the distribution of the pores of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold. The PVA-g-chitosan scaffold in Figure 1 was treated with chemistry foaming agent, which was stirred during the manufacturing process. The resulting 3D scaffolds samples had pore sizes of CH25: 452 μm, CH50: 428 μm, and CH75: 280 μm. Apparently, the high concentration of chitosan decreased the pore size in the 3D scaffold.Figure 2
SEM image of various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds. (Chitosan ratio: CH25 is 0.25 g, CH50 is 0.50 g, and CH75 is 0.75 g.)


## 3.3. Porosity and Swelling Ratio

Figure3 presents the porosities (■) and swelling ratios (□) of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds under various concentrations. Porosity is calculated from (1) in Section 2.2.4. Porosity was measured at three different concentrations of the chitosan used to form the 3D scaffold: 85%, 75%, and 72%. Figure 3 shows that porosity decreases as the chitosan concentration increases [24]. Notably, regardless of concentration, a high porosity (above 70%) could still be maintained in the chitosan scaffolds by controlling the concentration of chitosan and the stirring rate of homogenizer. These materials were then used for cell cultivation to evaluate their physical properties.Figure 3
Porosity and swelling ratio of various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds. The above histogram is the actual forming figure of the grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold.The water absorption of the raw materials affected not only the scaffold shape, but also the cell growth. If the cell cultivation processes used in tissue engineering have a long culture time and use highly absorbent materials, the scaffold can become saturated with water and expand, causing deformation and affecting the proliferation and division of cells.Figure3 is a diagram of the water absorption in various concentrations of chitosan scaffolds at 300 rpm stirring rates. The (□) represents the swelling ratio. The above histogram is an actual photograph of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold during formation. The change ratio of water absorption is the water absorption in relation to the chitosan concentration, which reveals the effects of chitosan concentration on water absorption. The diagram illustrates that, as the concentration of the chitosan solution increases, the change ratio of water absorption decreases. When the ratio of PVA to chitosan was 1 : 0.25 (CH25), the swelling ratio was 370%. As the chitosan concentration increased (CH75), the absorption of water considerably decreased to 300% because, at a high concentration of chitosan, the volume occupied per unit area is high. Therefore, water absorption is much lower than that at low chitosan concentrations.


## 3.4. Compression Test

During cell cultivation, 3D scaffolds must have sufficient strength to support cell attachment. However, a water-swellable 3D scaffold can damage the frame structure of the cell culture when using liquid medium. Therefore, 3D scaffolds must withstand moderate intensity force.Figure4 shows the mechanical properties of the 3D scaffold. As the chitosan concentration increased, the mechanical strength of the 3D scaffold decreased. The mechanical strength of 3D scaffolds depends on the chitosan concentration because a 3D scaffold with a high concentration has a hard and brittle structure that can withstand lower mechanical strength. The compression strength of CH25 PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds reached 16 × 10−1 MPa. In an earlier study, the authors found that the compression strength of pure chitosan 3D scaffold [25] was much lower than that of grafted 3D scaffold.Figure 4
The mechanical properties of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds.


## 3.5. Biodegradability of 3D Scaffold

For tissue engineering, the ultimate goal for applications of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds is natural disintegration as the cells grow. The time to degradation naturally affects cell growth conditions. The environment of the human body was simulated by using the enzymes lipase and lysozyme to evaluate the biodegradability of the scaffold. Both enzymes are hydrolases. Lipase is a lipid-digesting enzyme that mainly affects carbonyl groups, whereas lysozyme is a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme that can hydrolyze the bindings between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine in some bacterial cell walls. Therefore, in this study, the enzymes lipase and lysozyme were used as degradation enzymes to investigate the time course of degradation of 3D scaffolds.Figure5 shows the enzymatic degradation experiments with scaffolds of various chitosan concentrations. The figure shows that the weight loss of PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold (CH25, CH50, and CH75) all increases as time increases. Moreover, degradation slightly decelerates as chitosan concentration increases. For example, the weight loss in the CH75 PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds (●) was almost 10% after 35 days. A possible explanation for the enzyme degradation rate of chitosan scaffolds is that only approximately 10% of the functional active sites are related to lysozyme and lipase. Most of its functional sites are β-(1-4)-glycosidic bonds between polysaccharides. The deacetylation of the chitosan used in this research approximated 75%. Moreover, the grafting of PVA and chitosan also affected the degradation rate in the scaffolds, and the weight of chitosan scaffolds at equilibrium is reduced by 10%. The PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds (CH25) without enzyme added in the PBS solution (▲) revealed a weight loss approximating 3%, which was consistent with other reports [26].Figure 5
Weight loss of various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds in the various enzymatic degradation at 35 days.Figure6 shows a SEM micrograph of a chitosan scaffold (CH50) after 35 days of enzymatic degradation at 37°C. Figures 6(b) and 6(c) clearly show the partial breakdown of the PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds and surface degradation after enzymatic treatment for 35 days. These experimental results suggest that the grafted 3D scaffold can be degraded by enzymesin vivo and can thus be used in tissue engineering.Figure 6
SEM image of degraded PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds (CH50) by enzyme ((a) original material, (b) lipase, and (c) lysozyme).
(a)
(b)
(c)


## 3.6.In Vitro Test

To elucidate the cell culturing conditions of a 3D scaffold, mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts were implanted into a 3D scaffold, and the consequent cell growth was monitored. Figure7 plots the growth curves of the mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells implanted in the 3D scaffold. As the culture time increased, the cell number increased up to a maximum of 15 to 25 × 104 in 120 hours, which indicated that the material supported cell proliferation. Figure 8 shows electron microscope SEM and EDS diagrams of cells implanted in the 3D scaffold (b) in comparison with those in the original 3D scaffold (a). The photograph reveals significant cell growth. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of phosphorus and calcium, which confirmed the successful growth of cells on the grafted PVA-g-starch 3D scaffold.Figure 7
Cell proliferation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts cell on various grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds as a function of time.Figure 8
SEM images of NIH3T3 fibroblasts cells on grafted PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds after 5 days of culture ((a) original material, (b) materials with cells, ×3000 and EDS analysis).
(a)
(b)


## 4. Conclusions

This study developed a simple method of manufacturing PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold for cell culture in tissue engineering. After uniformly mixing the chitosan and PVA solution with a homogenizer at 300 rpm, H2SO4 and formaldehyde were added for catalysis. The PVA-g-chitosan was successfully prepared. The porosities of all three different chitosan concentrations used to form the 3D scaffold exceeded 72%, but porosity decreased as the chitosan concentration increased. The water absorption of the 3D scaffold was dependent on the chitosan concentration, which demonstrated the influence of the chitosan concentration on the amount of water absorbed. The 3D scaffold has excellent mechanical strength. The compression strength of CH25 PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffolds reached 16 × 10−1 MPa. The degradation ratio of the 3D PVA-g-chitosan scaffold is low and is dependent on deacetylation and grafting. The PVA-g-chitosan 3D scaffold is highly compatible with cell attachment. As the culture time increased, the number of cells also increased up to a maximum of 15 to 25 × 104 in 120 hours.



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*Source: 935305-2015-05-19.xml*