Preparation and Biological Activity of Chitosan Fibers Reinforced PLLA/HA-CaSiO3 Composites

Chitosan fibers(CSf) andCaSiO3 were incorporated into a poly (L-lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PLLA/HA) matrix as reinforcements to prepare scaffold composites with adequate strength and high porosity for bone tissue engineering combined with emulsion freeze drying technique. The structural morphology of the composites was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The porosity was tested by liquid substitute method. The mechanical property was measured. The effects of addition of CSf and CaSiO3 on composites were also discussed. Simulated body fluid (SBF) experiments were conducted to assess the bioactivity of the composites. The chemical components of resultants on surfaces after the immersion in SBF were analyzed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the composites with high connectivity have pore sizes of 100~250μm, a porosity of 60%~80%, compressive strength of 3.5~8.0MPa. In the SBF tests, Chitosan fiber reinforced PLLA/HA-CaSiO3 composite degraded stably, meanwhile, the formation of a layer of bone-like apatite on the surfaces of the samples indicated a good bioactivity. Studies suggest the feasibility of using CSf reinforced PLLA /HA-CaSiO3 composite for bone tissue engineering.