Preparation Of Porous Gelatin Based Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering

In recent years, preparation of porous scaffolds for tissue engineering is the key point of study in tissue engineering. In this paper preparation methods of porous gelatin based scaffolds for tissue engineering and their properties were systematically investigated.Firstly, techniques of freeze-drying in vacuum condition and freeze-extraction in atmospheric condition were used to prepare porous gelatin based scaffolds for tissue engineering and factors (such as gelatin solution concentration, volume of crosslinking agent, pH value of the system) which influence structures and properties of the scaffolds were investigated. Results showed that three-dimensional porous gelatin based scaffolds were successfully prepared by these two techniques; The average pore size could reach over100μm and water-absorb ratio could reach30times; Compared with freeze-drying technique, freeze-extraction was a time and energy saving technique because by this technique, time and energy consuming process of freeze-drying in vaccum condition can be saved.Then, stirring-foaming freeze-drying technique was tentatively used to prepare porous gelatin based scaffolds. Results showed that three-dimensional porous gelatin based scaffolds were successfully prepared by this technique. Structure of large pores benefit for cells penetration, propagation and adhesion and minor pores benefit for nutrients delivery was contained in the scaffold. It was found that the bacteriostatic activity of cerium nitrate-gelatin scaffolds against Staphylococcus aureus was outstanding, and increased with the increase in the cerium nitrate concentration.