The influence of chitosan, cellulose and alginate chemical nature on mineral matrix formation

Cell carriers such as chitosan, alginate and cellulose play a crucial role in cell behavior, however the influence of their chemical nature on osteogenesis is little studied. Here, rat bone marrow cells were grown on the surface of those polymers. The cells remained viable and produced a mineral matrix, which was deposited on the surface of all the polymers. The amount of inorganic matrix significantly varied according to the polymer, and the morphology of the inorganic matrix was influenced by the nature of the substrates, generating perfect hexagonal crystals at the surface of chitosan, alginate and cellulose.