Abstract
A polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) composed of chitosan (CS) and phosphorylated chitosan (PCS) was used to encapsulate a calcium phosphate by a biomimetic method. An acidic CS (polycation) solution containing calcium and phosphate ions (Ca2+: 6mM, Ca/P = 1.67) was added into PCS (polyanion) solution leading to the formation of a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) with nanoscopic carbonate-containing, low-crystallinity hydroxyapatite (HA) distributed evenly in the fibrils of the PEC by controlled crystal growth. The resulting composite material, PEC-HA, has a complicated, hierarchical porous structure that is expected to have high bio-compatibity and that may be of use as a carrier for controlled-release therapetic agents.
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