title: Chitosan fibers modified with HAp/β-TCP nanoparticles.
abstract: This paper describes a method for preparing chitosan fibers modified with hydroxyapatite (HAp), tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and HAp/β-TCP nanoparticles. Fiber-grade chitosan derived from the northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and nanoparticles of tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) suspended in a diluted chitosan solution were used in the investigation. Diluted chitosan solution containing nanoparticles of Hap/β-TCP was introduced to a 5.16 wt% solution of chitosan in 3.0 wt% acetic acid. The properties of the spinning solutions were examined. Chitosan fibers modified with nanoparticles of HAp/β-TCP were characterized by a level of tenacity and calcium content one hundred times higher than that of regular chitosan fibers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibers-IBWCh, Sklodowskiej-Curie 19/27, 90-570 Lodz, Poland; E-Mail:  pighinelli@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wawro
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pighinelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D033542:Pandalidae; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D012996:Solutions; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; D048271:Chitosan; D017886:Durapatite