Preparation of novel chitosan scaffolds by electrochemical process

An electrochemical method of preparing chitosan scaffolds with three different molecular weights in various acid solutions has been reported. Chitosan samples prepared by electrolysis in acid solutions exhibited a rod-like geometry and a porous morphology with detectable deacetylation and degradation. The recovery rate of high molecular weight chitosan was highest among three polymers in all type of solvents. Specific gravity, crystallinity, and the morphology of various scaffolds were investigated by pycnometer, X-ray, and scanning electron microscopy studies. These evidences indicated that chitosan scaffolds lost some degree of crystallinity and showed a porous structure. The process and structures described here provided a starting point for the fabrication and design of chitosan based scaffold materials.