This work aimed to introduce nanosized SiO2 into the CS matrix to produce three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds by solvent casting combined with salt leaching using NaCl as a porogen agent. The amount of the porogen to polymer was varied to produce 3D CS/SiO2 scaffolds with suitable pore sizes and porosity. | Cite this paper Vietnam J. Chem. 2023 61 5 605-611 Research article DOI Solvent casting-particulate leaching synthesis of a nano-SiO2 chitosan composite scaffold for potential use in bone tissue engineering Nguyen Kim Nga Tran Thi Thu Huyen Ta Ngoc Dung School of Chemical Engineering Hanoi University of Science and Technology Hanoi 10000 Viet Nam Submitted January 27 2023 Revised April 8 2023 Accepted June 5 2023 Abstract In this work a three-dimensional 3D scaffold comprised of chitosan and SiO2 nanoparticles NPs CS SiO2 was synthesized for bone tissue engineering. The scaffold was synthesized using a combination of solvent casting and salt leaching methods. The nanoparticle sizes were controlled by hydrothermal treatment with the aid of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide CTAB which was then used as a bio-inorganic component of the composite scaffold. Various methods such as SEM FTIR XRD and liquid substitution were conducted to determine the morphology structure pore sizes and porosity of the synthesized scaffolds and the interaction between the SiO2 and CS phases. The mechanical properties of the composite scaffolds were evaluated by testing their tensile strength. The results showed that the synthesized 3D CS SiO2 scaffolds exhibited porous structures with suitable average pore sizes ranging from 198 to 269 µm and porosities from to respectively. The tensile strengths of the CS SiO2 scaffolds were around MPa matching well with those of cancellous bone. These appropriate values in terms of pore size porosity and tensile strength suggest that CS SiO2 scaffolds could support cell migration growth and distribution. The synthesized CS SiO2 scaffolds would be potential biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications. Keywords. SiO2 scaffold solvent casting particulate leaching bone-tissue engineering. 1. INTRODUCTION BTE scaffolds due to its high biocompatibility non- antigenicity and antibacterial properties. 8 .
