The current scenario in tissue
engineering research demands materials of requisite properties, viz., high porosity, mechanical stability, thermal stability,
biocompatibility and biodegradability for clinical applications. However,
bringing these properties in single biomaterial is a challenging task, which
needs intensive research on suitable cross-linking agents. In the present
study, 3D scaffold was prepared with above said properties using chitosan and
oxalic (O), malonic (M), succinic (S), glutaric (G), adipic (A), pimelic (P),
suberic (SU), azelaic (AZ) and sebacic (SE) acid (OMS- GAP-SAS) individually as a non
covalent cross-linkers as well as the solvent for chitosan. Assessment on degree
of cross-linking, mechanical strength, FT-IR analysis, morphological
observation, thermal stability, binding interactions (molecular docking), in vitro biocompatibility and its
efficacy as a wound dressing material were performed. Results revealed the
degree of cross-linking for OMSGAP-SAS engineered chitosan were in the range
between ≈55% - 65% and the biomaterial demonstrated
thermal stability more than 300°C and also exhibited ≥3 - 4 fold increase in mechanical strength compared to chitosan
alone. The bioinformatics studies evidently proved the chemistry behind the interaction of OMSGAP-SAS with chitosan.
OMSGAP-SAS played dual role to develop the chitosan biomaterial with above said
properties, thus matching the requirements needed for various applications.