Development of cobalt-incorporated chitosan scaffold for regenerative potential in human dental pulp stem cells: An in vitro study.

The aim of the study was to comparatively evaluate chitosan and Cobalt incorporated chitosan (CoCH) scaffold at varying concentrations in terms of their material characteristics, cytotoxicity and cell adhesion potential. In the present study, cobalt incorporated chitosan scaffolds at varying concentrations were prepared and dried. The synthesised scaffolds were characterised using XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX and BET which revealed amorphous, porous surface of CoCH scaffolds and FTIR analysis showed the complexation confirming the chelation of cobalt with chitosan. The experimental scaffolds proved to be non-cytotoxic when compared to chitosan scaffolds on XTT analysis. Cell-seeding assay revealed enhanced adherence of hDPSCs to CoCH scaffold at 1:1 ratio in the concentration of 100 mL of 100 μmol/L cobalt chloride solution in 100 mL of 2 % chitosan solution, when compared to other groups. The results highlighted that 100 μmol/L concentration of cobalt chloride when incorporated in 1:1 ratio into 2 % CH solution yields a promising porous, biocompatible scaffold with enhanced cellular adhesion for dentin-pulp regeneration.