Chitosan-based biomimetic scaffolds and methods for preparing the same

publication date: 2011-12-08; filing date: 2011-05-24The invention concerns chitosan biomimetic scaffolds and methods for modulating their intrinsic properties such as rigidity, elasticity, resistance to mechanical stress, porosity, biodegradation and absorbance of exudates. Therefore, the present invention relates to a layered chitosan scaffold wherein said layered scaffold comprises at least two fused layers, wherein at least one of the fused layers comprises a chitosan nanofiber membrane and the other fused layer comprises a porous chitosan support layer. Moreover, the present invention provides a layered chitosan scaffold characterized by (i) a good adhesion between the porous and nanofiber layers, (ii) a tuneable porosity of the nanofiber layer by tuning the distance between the nanofibers, (iii) a stable nanofibers and porous morphology even when immersed in water or other solvents and a process for the preparation of such layered chitosan scaffold. Finally, the present invention provides the use of the layered electrospun chitosan scaffold of the invention or the layered electrospun chitosan scaffold produced by the process of the invention as a wound dressing, in tissue engineering or for biomedical applications