Properties and Structure of Microcrystalline Chitosan and Hydroxyapatite Composites

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.