Fabrication, characterization and bioactivity evaluation of calcium pyrophosphate/polymeric biocomposites

The design of the biocomposites offers the opportunity to create grafting materials with excellent bioactivity, resorbability and improved mechanical properties. In this study, we are concerned with the preparation of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) and its composites with polymeric matrix to enhance these properties. The fabricated biocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformer infrared spectra (FT-IR), thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses and scanning electron microscope with X-ray elemental analysis (SEM-EDAX). The characterization results confirmed homogeneity, interaction and integration between the CPP filler and polymeric matrix. The mechanical properties of biocomposites had enhanced values compared to the original copolymer matrices and were comparable to those of cancellous bone. In vitro test results via calcium and phosphorous ions measurements, showed that the biocomposites had enhanced ability to accelerate the mineralization of calcium phosphate layer on their surfaces. FT-IR and SEM-EDAX post-immersion confirmed that the CPP/polymeric composites containing chitosan or chitosan–gelatin matrix had ability to induce a bone-like apatite layer onto their surfaces. Finally, a novel CPP/polymeric biocomposites have good bioactivity and suitable mechanical properties; therefore, they could be used in bone grafting and tissue engineering applications in future.