3D printing biodegradable scaffolds with chitosan materials for tissue engineering

Abstract

Chitosan-g-oligo (L,L-lactide) copolymer was synthesized through a solvent-free reaction in an extruder. Three-dimensional scaffolds based on photosensitive composition contained the synthetized copolymer were formed by two-photon polymerization. The optimum ratio of components, methods of preparation of photopolymerizable mixtures, parameters of the laser structuring and procedure of washing from unbound crosslinkers have been optimized. Chitosan scaffolds were non-cytotoxic and might therefore be a suitable candidate for treating spinal cord injuries and other neuronal degenerative diseases.