Preparation and In Vitro Evaluation of Chitosan Bioelectret Membranes for Guided Bone Regeneration

Chitosan bioelectret membranes were prepared from chitosan with the tape casting method and polarized in an electric field with grid-controlled corona charge. Surface potential tests revealed that the surface potential rapidly decayed within one day and gradually stabilized over the following 8 days. The bioelectret membranes exhibited similar mechanical properties as the unpolarized membranes. The negatively charged surface facilitated depolymerization by lysozyme in phosphate buffered saline solution and induced apatite crystals depositing on the surface in simulated body fluid. Osteoblasts adhered well to the negatively charged surface. Levels of osteoblast viability and alkaline phosphatase activity were higher on the bioelectret membranes than on the unpolarized membranes.