@article {17660, title = {Design and functionalization of chitin-based microspheres scaffolds}, journal = {Green Chemistry}, volume = {15}, year = {2013}, month = {2013-08-27 00:00:00}, pages = {3252-3258}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry }, abstract = {

Chitin agglomerated scaffolds were produced and functionalized using the green chemistry principles and\  5
clean\  technologies.\  Such\  combination\  enabled\  the\  functionalization\  of\  chitin\  microparticles\  prepared
through dissolution of the polymer in ionic liquids, followed by of the application of a sol-gel method.
Finally, the 3D constructs were moulded and dried using a supercritical assisted agglomeration method.
Structural and morphological characterization is presented using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM)
and micro-computed tomography ({\textmu}-CT).\  An evaluationof the bioactive behavior of the\  matrices\  was\  10
made by immersing them in simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to 21 days. The potential of such matrices
as drug delivery systems was evaluated after the incorporation of dexamethasone into the matrices during
drying\  in\  supercritical\  assisted\  agglomeration.\  The findings\  suggested\  that\  the\  morphological\  features
such as porosity, interconnectivity and pore size distribution of the matrices can be tunned by changing
particle\  size,\  chitin\  concentration\  and\  the pressure\  applied during\  moulding.\  Chitin\  microspheres\  were\  15
modified by siloxane and silanol groups, providing a bioactive behavior; the apatite formation was shown
to\  be\  dependent\  on\  the\  amount\  and\  arrangement\  of\  silanol\  groups.\  Furthermore,\  in\  vitro\  drug\  release studies showed that dexamethasone was sustainably released. All findings suggest that this strategy isa
feasible and advantageous process to obtain chitin-based 3D structures with both functional and structural
characteristics that make then suitable for regenerative medicine applications.

}, keywords = {chitin, ionic liquids, microspheres}, doi = { 10.1039/C3GC41060A }, url = {http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2013/gc/c3gc41060a$\#$!divAbstract}, author = {Silva, S. S. and Duarte, A. R. C. and Mano, J. F. and Reis, R. L.} }