Collagen-chitosan polymeric scaffolds for the in vitro culture of human epidermoid carcinoma cells

A biodegradable polymer scaffold was developed using collagen and chitosan, in the form of interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN), for in vitro cult ure of human epidermoid carcinoma cells (HEp-2, Cincinnati). Glutaraldehyde was used as cross-linking agent For the development of scaffold. Various t ypes of scaffolds were prepared using different proportionate mixtures of c ollagen and chitosan solutions in the ratio of 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4 and 7:3 ( collagen:chitosan). These scaffolds were fully characterized by Fourier tra nsform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DS C) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Equilibrium swelling studies were carried out in phosphate buffer of physiological pH (7.4) to study its swel ling characteristics at slightly alkaline pH. The scaffold that showed opti mum swelling property was selected as the best scaffold for performing in v itro culture studies. In vitro culture studies were carried out using HEp-2 cells, over the selected scaffold and its growth morphology was determined through optical photographs taken at different magnifications at various d ays of culture. The results of the above studies suggest that the scaffolds prepared from collagen and chitosan can be utilized as a substrate to cult ure HEp-2 cells and can also be used as an in vitro model to test anticance rous drugs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.