title: In vitro biomechanical and biocompatible evaluation of natural hydroxyapatite/chitosan composite for bone repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the biomechanical properties and biocompatibility of natural hydroxyapatite/chitosan (HA/CS) composites.
  
  
  METHODS
  The natural HA/CS composites with a different proportion of HA and CS were prepared by the cross-linking method, and then the compressive strength, microstructure and pH values of extracts from these composites were measured by SEM and pH meter, respectively. Subsequently, the biocompatibility of the composites was evaluated by means of a series of biological tests, including MTT, acute systemic toxicity, heat source, and hemolysis tests in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chitosan content in the composites had significantly influenced the mechanical properties and microstructure of the composites. The pH value of the composite extract was approximately 7.0, which was very close to that of human plasma. Furthermore, the natural HA/CS composites showed no cytotoxicity, irritation, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity and special pyrogen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that the natural HA/CS composite may be a potential bone repair material.
authors: State Key Lab of Bioelectronics of Biomedical and Engineering Department, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Xiaoying
authors: X
authors: Lü
authors: Buzhong
authors: B
authors: Zheng
authors: Xiaojun
authors: X
authors: Tang
authors: Lifeng
authors: L
authors: Zhao
authors: Jieyan
authors: J
authors: Lu
authors: Zhiwei
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Jizhong
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D019245:Compressive Strength; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D048271:Chitosan; D017886:Durapatite