Generation of an Adequate Perfusion Network within Dense Collagen Hydrogels Using Thermoplastic Polymers as Sacrificial Matrix to Promote Cell Viability.

Dense collagen hydrogels are promising biomaterials for several tissue-engineering applications. They exhibit high mechanical properties, similar to physiological extracellular matrices, and do not shrink under cellular activity. However, they suffer from several drawbacks, such as weak nutrient and O diffusion, impacting cell survival.

Rational formulation design of injectable thermosensitive chitosan-based hydrogels for cell encapsulation and delivery.

This work reports a rational design of injectable thermosensitive chitosan systems for cell encapsulation and delivery. Using mixtures of two phosphate salts, beta-glycerophosphate and ammonium hydrogen phosphate, we demonstrate that the pH and the osmolarity can be adjusted separately by varying the molar ratios between the salts and the d-glucosamine monomers. We found the existence of a critical temperature above which gelation time decays following a power-law.