Biodegradation and compressive strength of phosphorylated chitosan/chitosan/hydroxyapatite bio-composites

The research about how to obtain an organic/inorganic bio-composite with excellent comprehensive properties is an active research field. Nowadays, very few of the achievements were applied to the clinical use due to many reasons. In this work, the purpose was to get a three-phase composite with good compressive strength by using phosphorylated chitosan. Phosphorylated modification of chitosan would bring new properties such as metal chelating. Four phosphorylated chitosan/chitosan/hydroxyapatite (PCS/CS/HA) composites with the weight ratios of 40/40/20, 30/30/40, 20/20/60, 10/10/80 were prepared through the coprecipitation method. The maximum value of compressive strength was measured about 70.25 MPa corresponding to the PCS/CS/HA composite rod with a weight ratio of 30/30/40. The composite rod maintained 64% of original compressive strength after soaking in simulated body fluid for 20 days. All the results showed that the PCS/CS/HA composite (30/30/40), had a good compressive strength, was appropriate to be used as a novel bio-composite for bone tissue engineering.

► Four PCS/CS/HA composites were prepared through the coprecipitation method.
► The maximum value of compressive strength was measured about 70.25 MPa.
► The compressive strength maintained 64% after soaking in SBF for 20 days.