Porous starch/cellulose nanofibers composite prepared by saltleaching technique for tissue engineering

Starch/cellulose nanofibers composites with proper porosity pore size, mechanical strength, andbiodegradability for cartilage tissue engineering have been reported in this study. The porous thermo-plastic starch-based composites were prepared by combining film casting, salt leaching, and freeze dryingmethods. The diameter of 70% nanofibers was in the range of 40–90 nm. All samples had interconnectedporous morphology; however an increase in pore interconnectivity was observed when the sodium chlo-ride ratio was increased in the salt leaching. Scaffolds with the total porogen content of 70 wt% exhibitedadequate mechanical properties for cartilage tissue engineering applications. The water uptake ratioof nanocomposites was remarkably enhanced by adding 10% cellulose nanofibers. The scaffolds werepartially destroyed due to low in vitro degradation rate after more than 20 weeks. Cultivation of iso-lated rabbit chondrocytes on the fabricated scaffold proved that the incorporation of nanofibers in starchstructure improves cell attachment and proliferation.