POLYMER COMPOSITES, sa.3, ss.288-295, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
This article presents some results concerning chitosan apatite composites obtained by two different methods. First method is based on phosphorylation, calcification and soaking in different calcium phosphate growth media (1.5 x SBF (simulated body fluid), Ca-PTris (calcium phosphorous tris) and the second method is based on mixing of calcium deficient apatite powder with a chitosan solution. This research is focused on studying and understanding the effect of using different methods on Ca:P ratio of composites. The Ca:P ratio of composites formed in 1.5 x SBF are closer to that of bone when compared with the Ca:P ratio of composites formed in Ca-PTris solution and Ca:P ratio of composites formed by mixing of calcium deficient apatite powder with a chitosan solution. The Ca:P ratio of the composite (1.75) immersed in 1.5 x SBF for 35 day is similar to the theoretical value of hydroxyapatite (1.67) and equal to the theoretical value of human bone (1.75). POLYM. COMPOS., 30:288-295, 2009. (C) 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers