Modifying Porous Bacterial Cellulose with Chondroitin Sulfate/Gelatin for Improved Biocompatibility

Lacking large pores and insufficient bioactivity are two critical disadvantages of bacterial cellulose (BC). In this study, a new type of coating, chondroitin sulfate (CS) modified with gelatin (Gel), was selected to modify porous bacterial cellulose (PBC) for improved biocompatibility. The PBC was fabricated by adding Gel microspheres in the culture medium of BC, and the PBC-CS/Gel scaffolds were prepared by immersing PBC in the CS solutions followed by Gel modification. The morphology, chemical structure, physicochemical properties, and in vitro cell behavior of the PBC-CS/Gel scaffolds were characterized. The mechanical test shows that the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the PBC scaffold were increased with the introduction of CS/Gel coatings. The in vitro cell studies show that the CS/Gel coatings significantly promote cell proliferation, adhesion, differentiation, and ingrowth into scaffolds. The PBC-CS/Gel scaffolds are expected to be used in tissue engineering.