Development, characterization and in vitro evaluation of chitosan and hydroxyapatite particles for bone replacement

Abstract

It was aimed to develop, characterize and evaluate in vitro the biomaterial composites of chitosan with hydroxyapatite (CHI/HA) to be applied as bone substitutes. Chitosans of low (L-CHI) and medium (M-CHI) molecular weight were previously characterized by the gravimetry, viscosimetry and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The composites of CHI/HA were produced by in situ precipitation, followed by centrifugation (microparticles) or spray drying (nanoparticles), and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In vitro cytotoxicity was determined by the cell viability test. The L-CHI and M-CHI presented, respectively, 15.7% and 16.4% of humidity, 0.51% and 0.18% ash, 79.5% and 77.7% deacetylation degree, and 4.18x104 and 17.3x104 mean molecular weight by viscosimetry. The composites exhibited characteristic groups of the source materials and scarce cytotoxicity. It was concluded that the techniques were effective for the production of biomaterials, with adequate physicochemical and biological characteristics for use in bone therapies.