Fabrication of porous hydroxyapatite/chitosan composite bodies through dip-coating method

Porous hydroxyapatite have been attracting considerable attention for bone surgery. Relatively low mechanical strength of porous hydroxyapatite hampers its application for permanent bone implant. The aim of this work was to study the effect of chitosan concentration and time of coating on the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of porous hydroxyapatite/chitosan composites prepared using dip coating technique. Firstly, chitosan powder was dissolved into acetic acid with a concentration of 0.50 %, 0.75 % and 1.00 % (w/v). Subsequently the porous hydroxyapatite bodies were coated with chitosan using dip-coating method at dip time during 30, 45, 60 min. The composites bodies were dried in room temperature for 24 h. The hydroxyapatite/chitosan bodies with compressive strength in the range of 1.52 - 4.05 MPa, porosity of 75 - 78 %, pore size of 22.8 - 26.61 um, and density of 0.71 - 0.78 g/cm3 were obtained. The increase of chitosan concentration from 0.50 % to 0.75 % can decrease the porosity from 78 % to 76 % and pore size from 28.25 um become 22.88 um. The compressive strength of the composites increased with the coating time.