Objective: To evaluate the biocompatibility of chitosan-g-polyvinylpyrrolidone as a new scaffold material.
Methods: The material was tested and measured for water absorption and contact angle, followed by evaluation of the biocompatibility by implantation into rabbits and in vitro cultured with the corneal epithelial cells.
Results: The water absorption rate of the material reached 1 100% with contact angle of 83-86. The results of implantation revealed partial degradation of the material 3 months after implantation, and much collagen and numerous corneal stromal cells appeared on the material without obvious inflammation reactions. In vitro coculture with epithelial cells showed good adhesion of the cells to the material which induced no obvious cytotoxicity.
Conclusion: The novel chitosan derivative has excellent biocompatibility and can be used as a tissue scaffold material.