| In this study, chitosan with 80, 90 and 100% degree of deacetylation (DDA) was crosslinked with dimethyl 3-3, dithio bis' propionimidate (DTBP) to enhance its structural properties and biodegradation rate. Glutaraldehyde crosslinked samples with similar degrees of crosslinking were used as a control. Results indicated that scaffolds made from 80%, 90% and 100% DDA chitosan had lost 28.82 +/- 3.15%, 60.6 +/- 4.72% and 12.46 +/- 4.08% of their weight after 24 days of degradation in a simulated body environment. At the degree of crosslinking tested, the biodegradation of scaffolds fabricated with 80 and 90% DDA chitosan and crosslinked with DTBP and glutaraldehyde were reduced while no significant effect was observed in biodegradation of the samples made from 100% DDA chitosan whether crosslinked or uncrosslinked after 24 days of degradation. The tensile strength of scaffolds made from 100% DDA chitosan was significantly higher than for scaffolds made from 80 and 90% DDA chitosan. Crosslinking of scaffolds made from 80, 90, and 100% DDA chitosan with DTBP increased the tensile strength while samples crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were stiff and had lower tensile strength compared to uncrosslinked samples. Crosslinking with DTBP and glutaraldehyde has no significant effect on water vapor transmission rate, pore diameter or water absorption but had significant effect on the porosity of the samples. Preliminary biocompatibility studies show that uncrosslinked chitosan is more biocompatible than crosslinked chitosan while no significant difference was observed between DTBP and glutaraldehyde crosslinked samples. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
