Chitosan-based nanoparticles as a sustained protein release carrier for tissue engineering applications

Chitosan/tripolyphosphate/chondroitin sulfate (Chi/TPP/CS) nanoparticles were prepared by an ionic gelation method to obtain a controlled release of proteins. Using Nel-like molecule-1 (Nell-1), a novel osteogenic protein, as a model protein, it was demonstrated that adjusting the composition of the particles modulated the protein association and release kinetics of incorporated proteins. Increasing the amounts of Chi crosslinking agents, TPP and CS, in the particles achieved sustained protein release. An increase in crosslinking density decreased degradation rates of the particles. Furthermore, the bioactivity of the protein was preserved during the encapsulating procedure into the particles. To demonstrate the feasibility of Chi/TPP/CS nanoparticles as sustained release carriers for tissue engineering scaffold applications, protein-loaded nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into collagen hydrogels or prefabricated porous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds without obstructing the integrity of the hydrogels or porous structure of the scaffolds. Thus, we expect that these particles have a potential for efficient protein carriers in tissue engineering applications, and will be further evaluated in vivo.