Chitosan-based nanocomposites for the repair of bone defects

Mechanically stable nanocomposites based on chitosan and silica nanoparticles were fabricated by means of freeze-drying and their osteoregenerative ability evaluated in an in vivo model. Those scaffolds showed biocompatibility promoting osteoblasts adhesion, proliferation and spheroids formation, and osteoinductive and osteoconductive effects in a mice model showing the scaffold integration in the host tissue and promoting bone formation and the complete repair of the calvaria defect performed. These promising observations underline the potential of these biomimetic scaffolds in tissue regeneration and bone repair applications with the further positive effects when using biocompatible and biodegradable materials.190