Fibronectin-mediated endothelialisation of chitosan porous matrices.

Chitosan (Ch) porous matrices were investigated regarding their ability to be colonized by human microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC-ST1.6R cell line) and macrovascular endothelial cells namely HUVECs. Specifically we assessed if previous incubation of Ch in a fibronectin (FN) solution was effective in promoting endothelial cell (EC) adhesion to Ch matrices with different degrees of acetylation (DAs). Upon FN physiadsorption, marked differences were found between the two DAs investigated, namely DA 4% and 15%. While cell adhesion was impaired on Ch with DA 15%, ECs were able to not only adhere to Ch with DA 4%, but also to spread and colonize the scaffolds, with retention of the EC pheno…