Objective: To prepare injectable chitosan/β-glycerol phosphate disodium/collagen scaffold and observe its effects upon the growth and differentiation of myoblasts.
Methods: After the preparations, 2 wt% chitosan (C) solution, 50 wt% β-glycerol phosphate disodium (GP) solution and 2 mg/ml collagen (Co) solution were mixed on ice according to a volume ratio of 5:1:6 to yield a thermosensitive injectable scaffold. To assess the cytotoxicity of scaffold, the extraction fluids of different concentrations were added into the myoblast culture. Then relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated. The growth and differentiation state of myoblasts in routine culture or gel-coated plates were compared. Myoblasts were encapsulated in C/GP/Co solution before gelation to perform a 3-dimensional culture and then observed dynamically.
Results: No cytotoxicity was demonstrated. No significant difference of proliferation index was demonstrated (P > 0.05) but fusion index and size of myotube increased significantly (P < 0.05). Thriving viability and proliferation were verified by the observations of laser confocal scanning microscope and scanning electron microscope.
Conclusion: C/GP/Co scaffold is a promising carrier for the culture and transplantation of myoblasts.