Preparation and characterization of crosslinked chitosan/gelatin scaffolds by ice segregation induced self-assembly

• Chitosan/gelatin scaffolds were prepared with different weight ratios by ice segregation self-assembly (ISISA) technique.
• Scaffolds were characterized by ATR-FTIR, SEM, TG and DSC to evaluate physicochemical properties.
• The crosslinker improves stability of scaffolds, decreases the solubility in water and increases the degradation time.
• Scaffolds present good properties to be evaluated as biomaterials.

Chitosan and gelatin are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers which may be used in the preparation of 3D scaffolds with applications in biomedicine. Chitosan/gelatin scaffolds crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were prepared by ice segregation induced self-assembly (ISISA); a unidirectional freezing at −196 °C followed freeze-drying to produce macroporous materials with a well-patterned structure. This process may be included within the green chemistry by the preparation of the porous structures without using organic solvents, moreover is a versatile, non-difficult and cheap process.The scaffolds prepared by ISISA were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and their stability was evaluated by degree swelling and degradation tests. The scaffolds present properties as high porosity, high degree swelling and good stability which make them suitable of applications as biomaterials.