It should maintain the volume of the defect during the initial phase of the healing process, provide stability, and then preferably resorb. Although years of research have been dedicated to developing an ideal graft material with all the desired healing and mechanical characteristics, all grafts currently used fail in one or more areas. Resorbable polymers have been investigated for their suitability as bone replacement materials. However, many polymers experience a great loss of strength in the early stages after implantation. Therefore, hydroxyapatite, or bone mineral, has been added to polymers to form a composite material which has improved mechanical properties and has the additional ability to bond to bone.
Chitin is the major polysaccharide of the shells of crustaceans.
It is the second most abundant natural polymer. Therefore, the purpose of this research will be to create and characterize a particle filled composite containing hydroxyapatite and chitosan to be used a novel resorbable bone replacement material. The mechanical properties of the composite will also be analyzed in order to determine the suitability for use as a load bearing implant. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers . Chitin Derivatives in Life Science , ed.