Cellular biocompatibility and biomechanical properties of N-carboxyethylchitosan/nanohydroxyapatite composites for tissue-engineered trachea.

To prepare an NCECS/nHA composite for tissue-engineered trachea and investigate its biomechanical and biocompatibile properties. Biomechanical tests were performed on dry and wet NCECS/nHA composite specimens prepared in vitro. The cell adhesion rate on each composite surface after 2, 6, and 12 hours of culture was calculated, and cell proliferation activity was measured using an MTT assay. NCECS/nHA composites exhibited satisfactory tensile strength and Young's modulus values. The adhesion rate of rabbit tracheal chondrocytes on NCECS/nHA surfaces reached 88.4% after 12 hours of culture. NCECS/nHA composites are promising scaffold materials for tissue-engineered trachea owing to satisfactory biocompatible and biomechanical properties.