Effect of chitosan reinforcement on properties of hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin composite for biomedical application

Abstract

In this study we reported the synthesis of biocompatible Hydroxyapatite (HAP)/Silk Fibroin (SF)/Chitosan (CT) composite by using In-situ co-precipitation method. Trace of carbonated hydroxyapatite with low crystallinity serves as a promising platform for the growth of bone tissue and were confirmed using Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which is in accordance with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) results. In-vitro bioactivity of the composite was analysed by treating it with Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution for two consecutive weeks. A maximum degradation rate of 30.28 ± 0.57% was observed for the first week and 23.89 ± 0.58% for the latter week, which confirms the increase in mineralization of the composite. The cytotoxicity of the composite was assessed using MTT-assay countered to MG-63 osteoblast like cell line, which reveals that all the composites are less toxic. Dependence of the antibacterial effect of composite on the type of bacteria were examined which reflects the better antibacterial activity of the composite to Gram-negative than Gram-positive. The potential of the 40% HAP- 30% SF- 30% CT composite (HSC-3) as a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering could be further confirmed from the future in-vivo studies for which the findings in the present study remains supportive. • A cross-linked HAP/SF/Chitosan composite was fabricated by in-situ co-precipitation route. • Polymer matrix could control the crystallinity of HAP. • Chitosan content could accelerate the bioactivity of the composite. • The prepared biomimetic composite can be used as a potential bone graft material.