Biodegradable Chitosan Scaffolds: Effect of Genipin Crosslinking

Currently researchers has pointed chitosan as one of the viable alternatives for application as scaffolds in tissue regeneration, mainly due to its availability, biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to chemical modifications, among them, the crosslinking. With the growing number of investigations of crosslinking agents from natural sources and its applicability, this work focuses on the development and microstructural characterization of chitosan scaffolds and chitosan crosslinked with genipina using the technique of freeze drying. Solutions were prepared with chitosan concentration of 2% (w / t), and genipin 0.15% (w / t) and 0.3% (w / t). These were frozen at-20 ° C and ≈ 196 ° C, and lyophilized. The effect of different concentrations of genipin and freezing rates of the solutions in the porous architecture of the scaffolds were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Optical Digital Microscopy 2D and 3D (OM) and testing the Degree of Swelling (DS). The SEM analysis revealed the formation of a three dimensional structure with pores and / or channels interconnected, influenced by the freezing rate and addition of crosslinking agent, these variables also influence the absorption capacity of the scaffolds. It was observed by OM, the effectiveness of the crosslinking with genipin, through points of fluorescence presented.