Comparison of chitosan apatite composites synthesized by different methods

Abstract 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 × 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 × 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 × 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., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers