Novel Technique of Polymer Composite Preparation for Bone Implants

Extensive interest in bone tissue engineering focuses on bio-degradable materials based on natural polymers. One of these polymers is chitosan which is deacetylated derivative of chitin. The paper presents preparation of chitosan scaffolds containing collagen and hydroxyapatite by electrolytic method. Chitosan dissolved in acetic acid forms chitosan acetate which is polyelectrolyte (protonated group NH3+). The flow of current through a solution of chitosan acetate causes its reduction and accumulation of chitosan on cathode. Formed structure is highly hydrated porous hydrogel. Hydrogel structure can be coated (in the process of electrodeposition) by nano-silver having a bactericidal effect. Subsequently hydrogel was frozen at -37°C for 24h and freeze-drying. Obtained scaffold has a high porosity (more than 88%) with average pore size of about 0.1-3 μm (micropores) and 0,1- few millimeters (macropores).