Abstract:
Main component of inorganic substances in bone is calcium phosphate (CaP). CaP alone, however, limits in cell attachment. Thus, the aim of this work is to prepare chitosan/CaP composites. Since it is well known that chitosan having positive charges to electrostatically interact with negative charges of cell membrane, resulting in high cell attachment. Two kinds of calcium phosphate, Hydroxyapatite (HAp) or Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) was homogeneously hybridized into chitosan solution by membrane diffusion process. The three-dimensional scaffolds were obtained by freeze-drying. The characterizations of CaP, morphology and osteoblast compatibility of the obtained scaffolds were examined. It was found that as prepared composites contained an inorganic content in range of 35-45%. Two types of chitosan/CaP composites contained calcium to phosphorus ratios of 1.61 or 0.92 which were closely to theoretical calcium to phosphorus ratios of HAp or DCPD, respectively. XRD patterns of chitosan/CaP composites showed the specific peaks 2θ at 26° and 32° which were those of HAp or 2θ around 20.94°, 29.25°, 30.50°, 34.15° and 34.42° which were those of DCPD. From these results, indicated that HAp or DCPD could be hybridized into chitosan solution through membrane diffusion process. Chitosan/CaP (HAp or DCPD) composite scaffolds formed by freeze-drying showed interconnected porous structure. From biocompatibility test revealed that neither chitosan nor chitosan/CaP scaffolds have not show cytotoxicity to MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell line. Therefore, the porous chitosan/CaP composite scaffolds should be considered as potential materials for bone tissue engineering.