Reinforcement of freeze-dried chitosan scaffolds with multiphasic calcium phosphate short fibers

The composite scaffolds of the chitosan and multiphasic calcium phosphate (HW) short fibers were prepared by freeze drying and characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM and FE-SEM). The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were assessed by compression test. The incorporation of HW fibers consisting three phases of hydroxyapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) into the chitosan matrices was associated with an increase in pore size, density and compressive strength and modulus, and a decrease in porosity and swelling ratio of the scaffolds. The strongest composite scaffolds in this study with a chitosan: HW fibers weight ratio of 1:1 showed a mean porosity of 69% and a mean strength and modulus of 420 kPa and 3.87 MPa, respectively. The in vitro bioactivity of the composites was confirmed by the formation of a calcium phosphate rich layer on the surface of soaked scaffolds in simulated body fluid. The findings of this initial work indicate that the chitosan-multiphasic calcium phosphate short fibers may be a suitable material for bone scaffolding.