Mechanical Characterization of Collagen-Enhanced Chitosan–Alginate Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Tissue engineering scaffolds require a delicate balance between porosity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. In this study, chitosan–alginate scaffolds reinforced with type I collagen were fabricated via freeze-drying and ionic crosslinking. The effect of collagen incorporation (0%, 10%, and 20% w/w) on mechanical properties was evaluated using compressive, tensile, and cyclic compression tests, as well as degradation-related stability over 7 days in PBS. Results demonstrated that the addition of 10% collagen (CAC-10) significantly enhanced compressive and tensile strength, elastic modulus, and recovery ratio, while maintaining favorable stability during degradation. Excessive collagen (20%) slightly decreased mechanical performance, likely due to structural heterogeneity and higher water uptake. Swelling behavior increased with collagen content, highlighting the influence of hydrophilic components on scaffold mechanics. Overall, CAC-10 scaffolds exhibited an optimal combination of mechanical strength, elasticity, and stability, making them promising candidates for soft tissue engineering applications.