Novel polymer networks consisting of crosslinked gelatin/chitosan were prepared by a solution casting technique. Methods for bulk crosslinking were developed to modify the gelatin/chitosan blends with the use of a nontoxic crosslinking reagent, proanthocyanidin (PA). FTIR spectral analyses of the preparations showed network formations of crosslinked gelatin, chitosan, and PA by amide and ester linkages. The crosslinked networks were stable in the aqueous state, and had improved mechanical properties and thermal stability when compared with nonlinked gelatin (G) and chitosan/gelatin (C/G) films. In vitro protease digestion and cell-culture studies showed that the PA-crosslinked C/G films are nontoxic and exhibited decreased biodegradation rate and a better ability to support cell adhesion and proliferation than noncrosslinked gelatin or chitosan alone. These results suggest that such a nontoxic crosslinked gelatin/chitosan scaffold can become a promising matrix for tissue-engineering applications.
Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.