Development of the chitosan tube prepared from crab tendon for nerve regeneration

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Abstract
Crystalline chitosan was successfully prepared from crab tendons with aligned chitin molecules. Chitosan obtained preserved the tube structure with a suitable size for nerve conduits (t-chitosan tube). The chitosan tubes were compounded with hydroxy apatite (HAp) using an alternate soaking method (t-chitosan/HAp tube) to enhance the strength of the tube walls. HAp crystals formed in the walls of the chitosan tubes, and their c-axis aligned well in parallel with the chitosan molecules. The growth of the HAp crystals was found to occur at the nucleation sites, most probably by forming complexes with amino groups on chitosan mediated by Ca ions. Furthermore, these tubes were treated at 120 ˚C to prevent from swelling. These treatments preserved well the hollow nature of the tubes. And the mechanical test showed that the force was significantly higher in the t-chitosan/HAp tube when compared to the circular or triangular t-chitosan tube at each strain.Bridge grafting (15 mm) into the sciatic nerve of ...