Preparation and in vitro biocompatibility of PBAT and chitosan composites for novel biodegradable cardiac occluders

Abstract The biodegradable composites were prepared by melt blending of chitosan (CS) and poly(butyleneadipate- co -terephthalate) (PBAT). By utilizing Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, mechanical properties analysis, water contact angle measuring, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, it was demonstrated that the CS of the PBAT-CS10 composite was relatively evenly dispersed in the PBAT matrix, the mechanical properties were significantly improved, the hydrophilicity was increased, the cold crystallization temperature was increased, and a good range of melt working temperature was obtained. The PBAT-CS10 composite was used to fabricate a cardiac occluder by fused deposition modeling of three-dimensional printing, and finite element analysis, and in vitro implantation testing proved the occluder’s mechanical support and sealing function under extreme boundary conditions. In vitro degradation experiments, neutral red uptake cytotoxicity assay, CCK-8 cell proliferation detection, immunofluorescence staining of the cytoskeleton, cell apoptosis detection, and reactive oxygen species assay were all performed on the composite, confirming that it and the occluder made of it could be hydrolyzed under physiological conditions and had no adverse effects on the cell membrane, lysosome membrane, cell proliferation, cell morphology, cell apoptosis, or ROS level, and had good biocompatibility.