Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Chitosan/nanohydroxyapatite composite was synthesized by co-precipitation of nanohydroxyapatite onto a chitosan scaffold. The aim of this research was to extract chitosan from locally sourced shrimp shells species Penaeus Monodon and to synthesize chitosan/nanohydroxyapatite composite. The morphology, crystalline structure and composition of the composites were investigated using Scanning electron microscopic analysis, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles dispersed in the chitosan matrix were observed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The size of the nanohydroxyapatite particles was estimated to be 13 nm by the X-ray diffractometer pattern using the Halder-Wagner method and this value was confirmed by the SEM images. From the energy dispersive X-ray analysis, the Ca/P weight ratio obtained was around 2 which equivalents to that of hydroxyapatite. The thermogravimetric analysis measurements of the composites concluded that the decomposition temperature decreases with increasing Hydroxyapatite content.