Fabrication of porous chitosan/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites: Their mechanical and biological properties
Issue title: Selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Nanotoxicity Assessment and Biomedical Environmental Application of Fine Particles and Nanotubes, Hokkaido, Japan, 16–17 June 2008, Part 2
Affiliations: Department of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan | Research and Development Center KBSEIREN, Ltd, Fukui, Japan | Support Section for Education and Research, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan | Department of Inorganic Materials, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Haruhiko Kashiwazaki, Department of Oral Health Science, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, N13 W7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8586, Japan. Tel./Fax: +81 11 706 4582; E-mail: kashi@ den.hokudai.ac.jp.
Abstract: We fabricated novel chitosan/hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites with porous structure by the co-precipitation and porogen leaching method. SEM observation confirmed that the porous chitosan/HAp nanocomposites with 60.6% and 87.1% porosity showed the interconnective pores with pore diameters in the range of 100–200 μm. The composites were found to be mechanically flexible and could be easily formed into any desired shape. The mechanical strength was enhanced by the heat treatment with saturated steam, which was ascribed to the formation of hydrogen bonds between chitosan molecules. The composites subcutaneously implanted in the backs of SD rats for 3 weeks caused little inflammation, and new blood vessel growth and giant cells were found around the composite accompanied with roughening of the surface due to degradation, showing good biocompatibility and biodegradation.
