Engineering Chitosan Using <i>α</i>, <i>ω</i>-Dicarboxylic Acids—An Approach to Improve the Mechanical Strength and Thermal Stability

Abstract

The current scenario in tissue engineering research demand s materials of requisite properties, viz., high porosity, me chanical stability, thermal stability, biocompatibility and biodegradability for clinical applications. However, bringing these properties in single biomaterial is a challenging task, which needs intensive research on suitable cross-linking agents. In the present study, 3D scaffold was prepared with above said properties using chitosan and oxalic (O), malonic (M), succinic (S), glutaric (G), adipic (A), pimelic (P), suberic (SU), azelaic (AZ) and sebacic (SE) acid (OMS - GAP-SAS) individually as a non covalent cross-linkers as well as the solvent for chitosan. Assessment on degree of cross-linking, mechanical strength, FT-IR analysis, morphological observation, thermal stability, binding interactions (molecular docking), in vitro biocompatibility and its efficacy as a wound dressing material were performed. Results revealed the degree of cross-linking for OMSGAP-SAS engineered chitosan were in the range between ≈55% - 65% and the biomaterial demonstrated thermal stability more than 300° C and also exhibit ed ≥3 - 4 fold increase in mechani cal strength compared to chitosan alone. The bioinformatics studies evidently proved the chemistry behind the interac tion of OMSGAP-SAS with chitosan. OMSGAP-SAS played dual role to develop the chitosan biomaterial with above said properties, thus matching the requirements needed for various applications.