Moreover, the reinforcement of scaffolds resistance to collagenase by adding COSs was attained by the amide links between the FCA composite chains and the amine groups of COSs. The MW of COSs dependent reduction in degradation was shown probably because the increment in cross-linking density between the FCA matrix and each individual COS molecule since the MWs of COSs are correlated with the length and the existing number of amine groups. Further, alginate and COSs could have collectively held the cleaved collagen in the scaffolds due to the amide bonds between these three components. Therefore, degradation of the structure was reduced with increasing MWs of COSs. Moreover, our results indicated that combinations of these three components could induce the mechanical property of the scaffolds as a
function of blending materials, cross-linking treatment, and the
degree of cross-links. These results are consistent with previous
collagen-based scaffolds fabricated with different materials