Bioactive properties of chitin/chitosan-calcium phosphate composite materials

Calcium phosphate coating over phosphorylated derivatives of chitin/chitosa n material was produced by a process based on phosphorylation, Ca(OH)(2) tr eatment and SBF (simulated body fluid solution) immersion. Chitin/chitosan phosphorylated using urea and H3PO4 and then soaked in saturated Ca(OH)(2) solution at ambient temperature, which lead to the formation of thin coatin gs formed by partial hydrolysis of the PO4 functionalities, were found to s timulate the growth of a calcium phosphate coating on their surfaces after soaking in 1.5 x SBF solution for as little as one day. The Ca(OH)(2) treat ment facilitates the formation of a calcium phosphate precursor over the ph osphorylated chitin/chitosan, which in turn encourages the growth of a calc ium deficient apatite coating over the surface upon immersion in SBF soluti on. The bio-compatibility of calcium phosphate compound-chitin/chitosan com posite materials was evaluated by cell culture test using L-929 cells. The initial anchoring ratio and the adhesive strength of L-929 cells for compos ites was higher than that for the polystyrene disk (LUX, control). The resu lts of in-vitro evaluation suggested that the calcium phosphate-chitin/chit osan composite materials were suitable for cell carrier materials.