Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This review article aims to determine the properties, uses, toxicity, and other side effects of crosslinking agents in tissue scaffolds when applied in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: A literature search was performed using the PubMed-NCBI (MEDLINE) database (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) with keywords: crosslinking reagent, collagen, hydroxyapatite, and bone regeneration. GRADE criteria were used to assess the quality of evidence. RESULTS: A total of six articles were included in the study. Improved mechanical properties of collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffolds with high porosity can be achieved by employing crosslinking methods, including physical dehydrothermal (DHT) treatment, chemical treatment with glutaraldehyde (GA), Microbial Transglutaminase (mTGase), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDAC), or a combination of both DHT and EDAC. Furthermore, the crosslinking of EDAC and DHT can lead to forming ester bonds between activated carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of DHT and EDAC crosslinking can increase mechanical strength, make the pore size appropriate, make the scaffold more stable, and support cell adhesion so that new cells can grow, and the process of osteogenesis can run more optimally.