engleski

Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Hydroxyapatite/Polymer Biocomposite Scaffolds

Scaffold materials designed from highly porous hydroxyapatite, HAp, derived from cuttlefish bone, and natural (gelatin, alginate) and synthetic (polycaprolactone) biopolymers were prepared and characterized. In the first stage, complete hydrothermal conversion of aragonite (CaCO3) originated cuttlefish bone (Sepia Officinalis L.) to pure HAp, maintaining the original highly porous micro-architecture of bone, was achieved. In the second stage, different concentration of polymer solutions (2-20 wt. %) were impregnated into the HAp scaffolds. The hydrothermal conversion of aragonite from cuttlefish bone into HAp was confirmed by XRD analysis. The FTIR spectra of HAp/biopolymer composite contain only the characteristic bands of HAp and polymers. There is no evidence of formation of new chemical bonds between HAp and polymers. In vitro treating with Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS) for period up to 28 days at 37°C was performed. Morphological investigations of the prepared composite scaffold performed by SEM revealed the appearance of much more regular sponge-like microspheres (5-10µm) deposited on the original microstructure of HAp converted cuttlefish bone. The SEM-EDX analysis of the composite surface showed the precipitation of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) depending on the nature of precipitation substrate. The chemical analysis of HBSS solution, performed after in vitro treating by ionic chromatography method, also indicated calcium phosphate precipitation on the composite surface. After initial weight increase, HAp scaffold was partially crumbled with weight loss ~6.7 % during 28 days while HAp/polymer composite samples showed weight increase ~7.0 % due to the Ca-P precipitation on composite surface. These biocomposite materials can be used in delivery of drugs and as growth factors stimulating cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation thus promoting bone and cartilage regeneration.

Hydroxyapatite; biodegradable polymer; tissue engineering

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