Abstract
The purpose of this study is to estimate the application of chitosan/HAP(hydroxyapatite) nanocomposites to bone substitutes. Chitosan powder,which have been deacetylated from 74% to 96%, has been prepared. Chitosan/HAP nanocomposites with a homogeneous nanostructure have been prepared by a co-precipitation method. The compact composites obtained have been found mechanically flexible, and this flexibility has been further improved by heating at 120 degrees with saturated steam pressure. The biocompatibility was assessed by implantation of them in the backs of SD rats. As a result, the composites,which had been deacetylated above 90%, showed good biocompatibility. A porous composites have been prepared by a porogen leaching method. The structure and physical properties of the composites were assessed.
