Tissue scaffolds made of naturally derived polymers present poor mechanical properties, which may limit their actual utilization in certain areas where high strength is a key criterion. This study was aimed at developing tissue scaffolds from a 50 : 50 w/w blend of hyaluronan (HA) and gelatin (Gel) that contained different amounts of acid-hydrolyzed alpha-chitin whiskers (CWs) by a freeze-drying method. The weight ratios of the CWs to the blend were 0-30%. These scaffolds were characterized for their physical, physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties. Regardless of the CW content, the average pore size of the scaffolds ranged between 139 and 166 mu m. The incorporation of 2% CWs in the HA-Gel scaffolds increased their tensile strength by about two times compared to those of the other groups of the scaffolds. Although the addition of 20-30% CWs in the scaffolds improved their thermal stability and resistance to biodegradation, the scaffolds with 10% CWs were the best for supporting the proliferation of cultured human osteosarcoma cells (SaOS-2). (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117: 34063418, 2010