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Freeze-dried chitosan scaffolds incorporating polyvinylpyrrolidone/polyvinyl alcohol/curcumin (CS-PVP/PVA/Cur) and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (NPs-SiO2)
* 1 , 2 , 3
1  Faculty of basic sciences/chemistry program; GRUPO DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN FOTOQUÍMICA Y FOTOBIOLOGÍA; Universidad del Atlántico; Barranquilla; COLOMBIA
2  Grupo de Polímeros, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170020, Chile
3  Grupo de Investigación de Fotoquímica y Fotobiología, Universidad del Atlántico, Carrera 30 Número 8-49, Puerto Colombia 081008, Colombia
Academic Editor: Wan-liang Lu

Abstract:

Tissue engineering seeks to create structures that mimic or stimulate the regeneration of native tissues. This study focuses on promoting tissue regeneration using scaffolds composed of chitosan (CS), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (NPs-SiO₂). The goal is to design scaffolds with mechanical properties similar to bone, combining rigidity to withstand biomechanical loads and flexibility to allow for cell migration. This strategy offers a promising platform for effective and functional bone repair. Biodegradable scaffolds enhanced with curcumin offer improved tissue regeneration and protection against infection, inflammation, and oxidative damage. The nanoparticles were initially synthesized by the sol-gel method and incorporated into the CS/PVP/PVA matrix by freeze-drying, which allowed a porous morphology to be obtained with small (<100 μm), medium (100–200 μm), and large (200–450 μm) pore distributions. The resulting structures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and in vitro cell viability assays, showing low cytotoxicity. In vivo tests were performed to allow for macroscopic inspection of the operated area in all biomodels, where approximate growth was expected in the presence of the scaffold, which proved to be biocompatible. The partial results indicate that the FT-IR of the scaffolds was successfully incorporated into the silicon dioxide (SiO₂) complex. Specifically, an intensification and definition of the broadband around 1076 cm⁻¹ wasidentified in the asymmetric stretching of the Si-O-Si bond, overlapping with the C-O vibrations of the polymers. The mechanical properties wereevaluated through the elastic modulus, maximum stress, and maximum deformation. There is a clear difference in stiffness of approximately 2.3 in one formulation (F2) compared to the other two formulations, making it not only the most rigid, but also the most resistant. Despite their notable differences in stiffness and resistance, all three types of scaffolds are highly deformable and elastic materials for biomedicine.

Keywords: Scaffolding, tissue regeneration, nanoparticle, bone tissue.
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