Fabrication and properties of chitin/hydroxyapatite hybrid hydrogels as scaffold nano-materials

► Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP)/chitin nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared by a simple method. ► The biocompatible and nontoxic hybrid hydrogels showed potential application as scaffolds in tissue engineering. ► Compressive strength of the chitin hydrogel was enhanced about 10 times by introducing nHAP.