Characterization of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan Hydrogels as Vascular Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

In this study, PVA/Chitosan hydrogels were fabricated by freeze/thaw cycles and further crosslinking with a KOH/Na₂SO₄ coagulation bath and the effect of freeze/thaw cycle number on cell behaviour was evaluated. The surface of the hydrogels were further modified with Collagen type I adsorption and seeded with bovine aortic vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Increasing the number of freeze/thaw cycles resulted in a marked change in surface morphology, hydrophilicity and protein adsorption. Collagen coating caused an increase in initial attachment and proliferation. We concluded that hydrogels that have undergone 3 freeze/thaw cycles were optimum for cell attachment both in the presence and the absence of coating.