TITLE:
Properties and Structure of Microcrystalline Chitosan and Hydroxyapatite Composites
AUTHORS:
Luciano Pighinelli, Magdalena Kucharska
KEYWORDS:
Chitosan; Microcrystalline Chitosan; Hydroxyapatite; Functional Biopolymer; Tissue Engineering
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.5 No.2,
April
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: The skeletal system
in the human body is very important, provides support and gives shape to the
body and provides a network between all soft tissues. The most common problems
in hard tissues are bone fractures, defects or diseases which needed to be
treated. The developments in artificial bone area seem to solve most of the
hard tissue problems, on the other hand artificial bones themselves may cause
other problems and in many cases they do not have sufficient mechanical
properties and/or good biocompatibility. The importance of chitosan and its
derivatives like microcrystalline chitosan has grown significantly over the
last two decades due to its renewable and biodegradable source, and also
because of the increase in the knowledge of its functionality in the
technological and biomedical applications. The excellent biocompability,
biofunctionality, and non-antigenic property make the chitosan and its
derivatives as a microcrystalline chitosan an ideal material for tissue
regeneration. To improve the suitability of chitosan for bone tissue engineering,
the composites of MCCh and hydroxyapatite were studied. In the present work the
characterization of the MCCh and composites with HAp in form of films and
sponges, is based on physico-chemical
tests, morphology, structure, particle size of HAp powder and distribution in
the polymer matrix. The compositions with film and sponge shape are derived from the junction of two different materials, containing organic and inorganic
substances. All sponge preparations, with HAp/MCCh have a well-shaped
3-dimensional structure, which could be used as implants in orthopedic surgery
for a scaffolds base for medical applications.