Effect of degradation on the microstructure of the chitosan membrane and on the attachment and growth of Schwann cells.

摘要

The aim of this study was to investigate how the degradation kinetics of chitosan membrane changes the microstructure of the membrane surface. Secondly, we examined how this change in surface texture affects cell attachment and growth. Cell response was characterized in terms of SCs attachment, spreading and proliferation.;Chitosan membranes were fabricated from 2% chitosan solution in acetic acid by air-drying. Membranes were weighed and then immersed in 1X PBS with and without lysozyme (4mg/ml) (Tomihata et al., 1997). The samples were then placed in an incubator-shaker at 37°C. Weight loss and pH changes were noted for the time period of 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 10 weeks. The degraded samples were analyzed using SEM to check for surface microstructure. Histological cell response was examined using SC line (RT4-D6P2T), which was cultured on the degraded membranes, for three days. Cell activity was tested using the MTT assay. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)